Inside the new economy class ‘zone’ on Qantas ultra long-haul flights

Whenever an airline unveils a new aircraft, the next-level features naturally begin in first class. But when Qantas launches its new fleet of A350-1000 aircraft in 2026, it will be a new and dedicated Wellbeing Zone that will be of most interest to the passengers dealing with the ultra long-haul, 20-hour plus flight.

First shown at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse earlier in the year, a mock-up of the zone was on display last week in Los Angeles at the Qantas LAX hangar, during the launch of its “Australia in the Sky” campaign, aimed at luring North Americans Down Under.

All travellers will have access to the Wellbeing Zone.

Located at the front of the economy cabin, a sculpted wall and integrated handles for stretching with a guided on-screen exercise program will be available for all flyers on board to visit.

A cabinet of healthy snacks, including fresh fruit, popcorn and drinks including juices and smoothies all focused on hydration will be self-service.

With passenger numbers in the space limited to between eight and 10, the logistics of length of stay and timings are yet to be determined.

Unlike the Captain Cook Lounge of the 1970s – at the front of some of Qantas’ first 747s hosting 15 passengers in a space of swivel seats and decor of the time – alcohol will not be served.

It’s one part of Project Sunrise, the 2017 initiative taking on the new frontier of aviation in ultra long-haul flights in one of the 12 A350s which Qantas has on order.

The interior of Captain Cook Lounge in a Qantas Boeing 747.

The new A350s will have seating for 238 passengers with six first suites, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy and 140 economy seats – the latter with an 83-centimetre seat pitch. (The A380-800 superjumbo, used on its Sydney-London QF1 service, has a pitch of about 81 centimetres.)

Qantas is collaborating with the Charles Perkins Centre, a medical research institute at the University of Sydney – using its expert knowledge of circadian rhythms, the timings of rest, light and food and the collective role they play in jet lag – in an attempt to minimise it.

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson says the flights from Sydney and Melbourne to New York non-stop, and also to London, will aim to make the tyranny of distance a thing of the past.

Between eight and 10 passengers will be allowed into the Wellbeing Zone at any one time.

“We fly Auckland to JFK, Perth to London. We know long-haul travel and we are going to take that next step on [Project] Sunrise. We’re thinking deeply about how to reimagine that next long-haul experience,” she says.

Helping realise that experience for passengers is industrial designer David Caon, of Caon Design Office, already responsible for myriad features on Qantas including weight-reducing crockery and rugs made from plastic bottles.

He says the Wellbeing Zone was part of Project Sunrise from the start, when movement, alongside comfort, sleep and the ability to socialise were among the top priorities identified by passengers when flying long-haul.

“Passengers know that they need to get up and move, but they needed somewhere to go,” Caon says.

“We knew that there was a need for a fourth space which is what we were calling it back at that time. It’s not a seat, it’s not a galley, it’s something else.”

While initial concepts included radical ideas such as exercise bikes (“too sweaty”), the final space is ultimately about promoting a sense of serenity, Caon says.

On the ceiling, a special lens will create a swimming pool water-and-light reflection effect.

“It combines our love of water and the time of the year that is probably most relaxing for most Australians, which is the summer holidays, and I wanted to bring that sense of calm and openness to this part of the cabin.”

The zone has already caught the attention of the broader aviation world, taking out the award for passenger comfort at this year’s Crystal Cabin Awards for air travel innovation.

Australia’s sunrises and sunsets will also be part of the broader cabin-lighting experience.

“We’ve been able to create a genuine sunset and a genuine sunrise which are actually viewed better the farther back in the cabin that you are. It happens over the course of 10 minutes, and it feels uncannily real.”

The new Qantas first-class suite planned for its A350 flights.

Passengers in first class, meanwhile, will be able to adjust their own lighting from the comfort of their bed or reclining armchair.

For Caon, the project offers an opportunity to help passengers to find themselves within the time zone of their destination.

“It means that they can begin their journey sooner or begin enjoying their journey sooner by spending less time recovering from travel and adjust to their new times.”

The Australia in the Sky campaign was overseen by director Baz Luhrmann and production designer Catherine Martin and features Qantas crew, model Jess Hart and actor Charlee Fraser, star of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Set to the music of Angus and Julia Stone, along with Chris Hemsworth’s dulcet tones, scenes in the campaign include a flyover of Sydney Harbour, Melbourne’s Federation Square and the wildlife of the Great Barrier Reef.

The writer travelled to Los Angeles as a guest of Qantas.