Qantas excludes bunks under Project Sunrise jets deck

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by Chris Chamberlin | June 3, 2019

Visions of turning the cargo bay of a plane into bunk beds resembling a railway on non-stop Project Sunrise flights from Qantas, from Australia's east coast to London and New York, will not materialize not, the airline now excluding sleeping space under the bridge on these slippery jets.

Instead, Qantas is developing a space dedicated to exercise, health and well-being, which will be open to all passengers on board, regardless of the seat number.

"The package we examined – put things in the hold – was not working," said Alan Joyce, chairman of the Qantas group, to the media at the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association. (IATA) in Seoul.

The revised communal section is rather "a space for a number of people who get up to do some exercise: there will be video screens with stretching exercises to work on, and an area on which scientists have thought more of a "hydration station". "

"Of course, if you want a drink, you can always have a very expensive Australian wine, or a beer in your place," reassures Joyce, "but if you want to reduce your calories, you can go to this region. stretch, so that's the perfect combination. "

"Some airlines are turning to bars, we are aiming for health and well-being, which is much better for you!"

Joyce confirms that the space on board – nicknamed "the fourth zone" at Qantas (the other three being the cabs, the galley and the toilets) – will feature on the company's first aircraft, Sunrise, with the Final proposals expected from Airbus and Boeing builders in August, before Qantas makes its purchase decision by the end of 2019, with the launch of flights in fiscal year 2022-23.

Airbus estimated that 32 bunk beds could be suitable under the main deck, mainly for economic and economic class passengers who would buy them as an "upgrade to sleep".

"Until now, we have generated a lot of interest, with many creative solutions, but I think that ultimately everyone is focused on sleep," says Ingo Wuggetzer, vice-president of President of Airbus for booth marketing.

Photo Gallery: How Airbus plans to put passengers in the cargo hold

Chris Chamberlin attends the IATA General Assembly in Seoul as a guest of IATA.