Would you actually take a 24-hour flight?
There’s no denying that a direct flight to Europe will be incredibly convenient for travellers.
By late 2027, that will be a reality, with Qantas’ Project Sunrise operating non-stop flights from Sydney to London. But when that means spending 22 hours on one plane without getting off, what does that actually look like?
It’s not long until Sydney to London flights are a reality. iStock
One frequent traveller posed the question on Reddit, asking if people would actually give up the chance to stretch their legs on a layover in order to save time in the air.
Many people said they’d only want to do it if seated in a premium cabin. “The time itself on the plane doesn’t bother me, just the discomfort of Economy,” one person wrote.
However, others praised how convenient these ultra-long-haul flights are.
“I’ve done Perth to Rome [16 hours] and wanted to jump out of the plane with a couple of hours to go,” read one comment.
“But stepping off that plane and realising I was at my destination was unmatched,” they continued. “Whether I could stand it for an extra 5-6 hours, I’m not sure. But I kinda want to try it.”
Another said: “I’ve done Perth-London regularly and to just add a couple of hours to that flight but also not have to deal with the layover is an absolute dream of an idea to me.”
It’s a long way to fly in economy. Qantas
When we polled Nine.com.au staff members, many of them were in favour of a long flight with no layover. “Who wants to sit in an airport for hours for no reason?,” one person said.
“If it meant less bag-wrangling and sitting around waiting then 100 per cent,” said another in favour of the non-stop.
However, one person did chime in to say they’d “literally rather die” than do a 22-hour flight.
Singapore Airlines’s ultra-long-haul offering (Singapore to New York, 19 hours) is in a plane that only has premium cabins – no economy seating at all.
While Project Sunrise planes will have a large economy cabin, Qantas has redesigned its seats and will introduce a number of amenities to make the long journey more comfortable.
Not only has the in-flight lighting plan been designed with the help of sleep scientists to assist with jet lag, the airline is also offering a world-first wellbeing zone on board.
Qantas will be the first airline in the world to offer a purpose-built inflight Wellbeing Zone. Qantas
This dedicated on-board space, located between the premium economy and economy cabins, is designed for passengers to stretch, hydrate, and move during these ultra-long-haul flights.
At the start of its development the airline said it started studies on the Wellbeing Zone before any other area of the A350.
“These flights will cut up to four hours off the journey and transform how people experience ultra long-haul travel, through science-backed design to minimise jet lag and maximise wellbeing,” Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said.
