Qantas customers ask for exercise bikes, virtual reality for 20-hour flights

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. announced Monday that its customers want in-flight innovations, such as flat-rate bicycles and virtual reality relaxation, to spend time on the proposed non-stop flights. 20 hours between Sydney and London.

The airline plans to order Airbus SE A350 or Boeing Co 777X jets capable of serving the longest commercial route in the world by the end of the year, with the first flights scheduled for 2022.

Focus group studies, as well as client surveys of those who flew 17 hours between Perth and London, revealed that health and well-being were the main trends, said Qantas in a statement.

Pbadenger suggestions include spaces for gentle exercise, the provision of wireless noise canceling headsets and the installation of an in-flight coffee serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as snacks, said the airline.

"Customers share incredibly imaginative ideas, which is an exciting challenge and helps us think outside the box to redefine the experience of long-haul transportation," said David Caon, Qantas' industrial designer.

For its Perth-London flights, which began last year, Qantas is offering 15-minute stretching clbades in its transit lounge in Perth before and after the flight, with the airline reporting an 80% turnout. The flight menu and cabin lighting are also designed to help the body clock.

Rival Singapore Airlines Ltd has retained the Canyon Ranch Wellness brand to design healthy meals and guided stretching exercises via its in-flight entertainment system, after flights have resumed for almost 19 hours between Singapore and New York last year, after a five year hiatus.

But neither of the two carriers planned cabin space reserved for physical activities or relaxation on its current very long-haul flights.

Qantas International Managing Director Alison Webster said the airline would review customer requests for Sydney-London services and design the cabin to make it "both affordable and profitable for the airline".