Qantas Is Training 360+ Pilots & 1,200 Cabin Crew For Just 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs

Airlinessimpleflying.com7 Nov

Qantas Is Training 360+ Pilots & 1,200 Cabin Crew For Just 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs

Brandon's passion for aviation started at a young age. He became involved in the flight simulator and VATSIM communities, which sparked his interest in aviation and eventually led him to earn his private pilot license. Outside of work, he continues to build flight hours, explore new airports, and stay involved in the aviation community.

Qantas will train more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew to operate 12 aircraft. The figure comes from the airline's own announcement, which states both groups will be trained by the time the twelfth Airbus A350-1000ULR arrives. That works out to 30 pilots and 100 cabin crew per airframe, roughly double what a conventional long-haul aircraft requires, on a fleet carrying 238 passengers per flight.

The length of the flights explains the ratio. Each aircraft carries an additional 5,283-gallon (20,000-liter) rear center fuel tank, enabling more than 9,942 miles (16,000 km) and up to 22 hours nonstop; a sector that long requires more pilots on board and longer rest periods afterward than any conventional rotation. Training is already underway on Australia's first A350 simulator in Sydney and with British Airways in the UK, drawn initially from Qantas A330 pilots, 40 of whom are converting to the A350 while continuing to fly their existing aircraft.

The first A350-1000ULR arrives in April 2027, with Sydney to London launching that October and Sydney to New York from mid-2028.

Qantas will train more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew to operate 12 aircraft. The figure comes from the airline's announcement, which says both groups will be trained by the time the twelfth A350-1000ULR arrives. Divided across the fleet, that is 30 pilots and 100 cabin crew for every airframe, on aircraft configured with 238 seats each.

The ratio is unusual enough that it drew attention when Qantas published it. Across the full Project Sunrise fleet, the airline is committing to a flight and cabin crew workforce of more than 1,560 people for twelve aircraft, a number driven by the operating profile rather than the fleet size.

The scale also reflects what Qantas is building toward, not what it needs on day one. Project Sunrise is the airline's first attempt at operating ultra-long-range flights as a core part of the network rather than a record-setting exception, and the 1,560 figure covers the full twelve-aircraft fleet across London, New York and whatever routes follow.

Qantas has said the program forms part of a broader fleet renewal that shifts the carrier from a predominantly Boeing-operated long-haul fleet to a largely Airbus-based structure, which means the training effort extends beyond Project Sunrise itself and into how the airline's entire long-haul operation will be crewed over the next decade.

The A350-1000ULR has an additional 20,000-liter rear center fuel tank that lets it fly more than 16,000 km and up to 22 hours nonstop. Qantas describes the aircraft as purpose-built for that mission, and the crew numbers follow from it rather than from the size of the fleet.

Qantas has framed the operation around the science of ultra-long-haul travel. Group CEO Vanessa Hudson described the aircraft as representing a fundamentally different way to fly, citing the lighting, the meals and a world-first Wellbeing Zone designed to help passengers manage flights of this length. The cabin holds 238 seats across four classes, comprising 6 first, 52 business, 40 premium economy and 140 economy.

Regulatory arrangements for flights of this duration are also distinct from standard long-haul operations. Qantas has worked with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on fatigue management for ultra-long-range flying, an area where normal duty limits do not straightforwardly apply to sectors exceeding 20 hours. The specifics of how crew complements and duty periods are set for Project Sunrise have not been published in detail, but the scale of the workforce Qantas has committed to training is the clearest public indication of what operating a 22-hour sector requires compared with a conventional long-haul rotation.

The airline has also not disclosed how crews will be based or how rostering will distribute flying across the 360 pilots, both of which shape how many people a daily London rotation actually consumes. What is clear from the published figure is that Qantas expects to need substantially more crew per aircraft than its existing long-haul fleet requires, and that the gap grows with every additional ultra-long-haul route the program adds.

Qantas pilots began training on Australia's first A350 simulator, installed in Sydney, ahead of the aircraft's arrival. The airline has also sent pilots to train with British Airways in the United Kingdom, which operates the A350-1000 and can provide experience that does not yet exist in Australia. Running both tracks lets Qantas build A350 competency before it has an aircraft of its own.

The initial cohort comes from inside the existing fleet. Qantas's current A330 pilots make up the first intake for Project Sunrise, with 40 already in the process of training for the A350 alongside their existing A330 flying.

Timing adds pressure to it all. With first delivery in April 2027 and Sydney to London launching that October, Qantas has roughly six months between receiving its first aircraft and operating a revenue service on the longest route in its network. Reporting on the program suggests the first A350-1000ULR will likely fly to New Zealand for training and crew familiarization before entering scheduled ultra-long-haul service, which gives crews time on the actual aircraft on short sectors before they take it to London.

Everything before that point happens in a simulator in Sydney or on another airline's aircraft in the United Kingdom.

Project Sunrise takes its name from the Double Sunrise endurance flights Qantas operated during the Second World War, a reference the airline has made explicitly in describing the program. The modern version aims to connect Australia's east coast nonstop to London and New York, routes no airline has operated without a stop.

The timeline has been long and repeatedly extended. Qantas announced in December 2019 that its preferred aircraft for the project was the Airbus A350-1000, which would receive an additional fuel tank and a slightly increased maximum takeoff weight to deliver the required performance. The firm 12-aircraft order was confirmed in May 2022. In February 2024, Qantas announced a delay of roughly six months, which Airbus attributed to the need to redesign the extra fuel tank, moving delivery to mid-2026. Qantas's August 2025 full-year result expected deliveries from October 2026. Airbus's June 2026 program update set the first delivery for April 2027.

The aircraft has since demonstrated the capability the program requires. The first A350-1000ULR made its maiden flight on June 2, 2026, flying for 3 hours and 43 minutes over France. In July 2026, Airbus conducted two nonstop test flights between Toulouse and Melbourne using that aircraft, which were reported as setting a distance record for a commercial airliner. Qantas unveiled the aircraft at Toulouse on June 17, 2026, with the second airframe moving through an eight-week testing and certification program.

Those test flights matter beyond the publicity, because they validated the modified fuel system and the extended-range systems that distinguish the ULR from a standard A350-1000 across a real mission profile rather than in a laboratory. The certification campaign covering those changes is what stands between the current flight testing and a delivered aircraft, and it is the piece of the program Qantas does not control.

Qantas will launch daily nonstop Sydney to London service in October 2027, the first Project Sunrise route, operating alongside the existing Perth to London and Sydney via Singapore to London services. Sydney to New York follows from mid-2028, which Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson described

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Airportsonemileatatime.com6 Nov

Good Riddance: The Worst Airport Lounge In The United States Closes

The Swissport Lounge at Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) Terminal 5 has just quietly closed. I’m about as sad as I’ll be on the day when Delta retires its latest Boeing 767-300ER…

Historically, Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5 has been a pretty lousy facility, though it has started to get better in recent years, thanks to an expansion to the terminal, and also thanks to the opening of new lounges.

Arguably the single most disappointing thing about Terminal 5 was the Swissport Lounge, which I’ve labeled the worst lounge in the United States — clearly many people agreed with me, since my review of the lounge had over 200 comments. It’s just truly one of those facilities that makes you wonder why we even bother using lounges.

The lounge had no windows, the most random collection of furniture, and a very limited selection of drinks and snacks. Unless you wanted to just guzzle alcohol, you’d be better off sitting in the terminal, in my opinion. Unfortunately for all too long, many premium airlines sent their customers here, given the lack of other lounge options. It’s quite underwhelming to be flying business class on a carrier like Etihad Airways or Qatar Airways, and then be sent here.

That brings us to the interesting update — the Swissport Lounge Chicago has closed as of October 31, 2026, so passengers are no longer being subjected to this facility.

It remains to be seen what happens with this lounge space, as that hasn’t been announced one way or another. In April 2025, Swissport’s head of North America lounges said that the company had “submitted a proposal to the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) for a multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion of our current Terminal 5 lounge at O’Hare International Airport.” However, I haven’t been able to find any updates on that, so I’m not sure what the latest is there.

It’s worth acknowledging just how much better the lounge situation at Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5 has gotten in recent years:

If we get another lounge at Terminal 5, that would of course be awesome, so I’m curious to see how this evolves. Chicago O’Hare is the biggest airport in the country to not have any sort of a credit card branded lounge, so I hope that eventually changes. The issue is the extent to which the terminals are dominated by their primary tenants (American and United), combined with the lack of airside connections to Terminal 5.

The Swissport Lounge Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5 has suddenly closed. I’m not sad to see the United States’ worst airport lounge close, though I am curious to see what is next for this space. Fortunately the Terminal 5 lounge situation has improved nicely in recent years, and there are now several solid new options. I do wish we’d still see a proper credit card lounge, though.

What do you make of the Swissport Lounge Chicago closing? Are you happy or elated?

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I loved this lounge yes it was a windowless mess and the first time i went in i couldnt believe this was a lounge. But it grew on me. Now the wingtips will be overcrowded im sure. Sad day.

"I am curious to see what is next for this space." Hell a janitors closet would be an upgrade. The writing was on the wall when even the cockroaches started boycotting the place.

Wow! The place really was a POS. You should have added some closeups of the furniture. It was so worn and haggard, it looked like stuff pulled from a landfill. It was honestly was so bad I don't know how Swissport could even want their name on the place.

IIRC the British Airways First Class lounge at O'Hare would be hard to beat as the worst lounge ever.

Man, I thought the IASS Lounge at HNL was the worst in the country. At least it has windows!

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Staysesquire.com6 Nov

The 16 Best New Hotels in New York City

Visiting New York City makes for a jam-packed trip. From shows on Broadway to walks through Central Park, from exhibits at the museums (Met? MoMA? Take your pick!) to shopping Fifth Avenue, days here are booked from start to finish. Of course, it’s then that the real fun starts—Manhattan is full of the best bars and restaurants in the world.

Given the length of the to-do list, some travelers think that where they stay while in town doesn’t matter. We disagree. Just because you won’t spend the bulk of your time lounging about in your hotel robe doesn’t mean you don’t need a plush option to coddle you after an afternoon spent zipping from sight to sight or a long night out on the tiles. A big bed, crisp linens, and a killer lobby bar can make a visit, after all.

New York City is a town obsessed with the new. (It’s even right there in the name: New York City.) And over the last five years it has seen an influx of hotels that are as much the destination as the line items on any itinerary. From the namesake brands that finally have a place to call home here, like the Faena, to the most iconic renovation of the decade at the Waldorf Astoria, here is exactly where you should be booking right now.

Faena shelters you from the city’s chaos, but it’s New York through and through. To the west, views of the Hudson River Greenway and Little Island. To the east, you can high-five people on the High Line from the terrace of the Living Room bar. The most N.Y.C. touch? The staff’s suits are nicer than yours. Rooms from $1,395. —Dave Holmes

On the hotel’s website, it says that “to tell the story of New York is, in some sense, to tell the story of the Waldorf Astoria.” For once, the marketing is correct. Like Manhattan, the hotel’s story is a tale of outsize real estate ambitions. A global standard for hospitality ever since the combination of the Waldorf Hotel and the Astoria Hotel in 1897, the property became the prize in the most expensive hotel sale ever in 2014. Three years later, the new owners closed it for renovations. The project cost $2 billion and took eight years, during which time the property was traded again.

The wait was worth it. From the rooms to the restaurants (there are three) to the sprawling lobby, where Cole Porter’s piano anchors the room, to the Guerlain Wellness Spa, the hotel outright dazzles. It’s the talk of Manhattan. And word is it’s already back up for sale. Rooms from $1,295. —Madison Vain

An understated facade on Thompson Street hides the sexiest hotel in SoHo. The Manner is the first of the latest brand by Standard International, and its flagship location is codesigned by the Standard’s Verena Haller and Milanese architect Hannes Peer, so the whole place is Studio 54 stylish, yet comfortable. Speakeasy Sloane’s is a great place for a cocktail and—we swear—the best chicken nuggets in town, while the Apartment is a cozy common space to use as your living room. Check out the penthouse, modeled after Halston’s office, and dream of the party you’ll throw there.

There’s no better center of operations for your next New York trip. Rooms from $799. —D.H.

Don’t let yourself get swept away by the history. An Art Deco gem built in the 1920s at 76th and Madison, the Surrey was a longtime landmark in New York’s glitziest neighborhood, playing host to the likes of JFK and Bette Davis. It closed after a century and, following a multiyear renovation, recently reopened as the first North American property under global luxury hotel group Corinthia. From the outside, the property could easily pass for a residential building. Inside, you’ll find 70 rooms and 30 suites, each flawless.

Muted terra-cotta-colored walls, crisp linens, and walk-in marble showers make for plush surroundings. The spa is small but divine. And the lobby bar and restaurant, Casa Tua (of Aspen, Miami, and Paris notoriety), is one of the hardest-to-get tables in town. Movie stars, politicians, famous divorcées, influencers—everyone here is someone. Including you. Rooms from $1,000. —M.V.

The Fifth Avenue Hotel leans into what New Yorkers with good taste who live in small spaces know is the secret to making their apartments feel luxurious: Love every single piece of furniture, adore every square inch. Nothing is wasted. If you’re lucky, you’ll get something like the rooms and hallways of the Fifth Avenue Hotel. It’s like rich-aunt maximalism: Missoni-style upholstered chairs and couches, an armoire that’s actually a giant bar adorned with dragons and birds. The wallpaper looks as though it’s hand-painted. Lots of tapestries and tufted pink walls. Unlike in many N.Y.C.

apartments, you’ll get a great night’s sleep here—the room feels pin-drop quiet, and the bathrooms are serene marble white. This is New York, but you might not leave the hotel. There’s in-room martini service, and downstairs is one of the city’s best new restaurants, the old-school-luxe Café Carmellini, as well as the Portrait Bar, home to some of the town’s best martinis (outside of your room). Rooms from $895 —K.S.

Hotels where you pay by the month can be dicier than a Vegas craps table. But Maison Hudson is the polar opposite. Located on the banks of the Hudson and at the fringe of the West Village, the property straddles a blurry line between ultra-luxurious hotel and supremely plush apartment. The minimum stay is a month, and the price starts at thirty g’s. Sounds absurdly high? Maybe. But when suites in N.Y.C. go for several thousand dollars per night, a stay at Maison Hudson can feel kind of like a good deal over time. Boy math!

Okay, so say you hit it big on a stock investment/crypto/inheritance and want to live like a 0.01 percenter in New York’s coolest neighborhood. Here’s what you get: a chic, tastefully decorated, ridiculously massive thousand-square-foot living space, complete with heated bathroom floors, automatic shades, a fully stocked kitchen, and an in-unit washer/dryer. The concierge—who is really like your own personal assistant—will get you anything you could possibly desire. (Think concert tickets, a rare bottle of wine, an endangered animal to eat for dinner—kidding!)

There’s an in-house spa that offers massages, facials, and antiaging treatments in a Zen-like setting. Marius, the French-inspired restaurant helmed by Michelin-star chef Sébastien Sanjou, feels intimate with only a handful of tables. While the eatery is open to the public, don’t worry: Maison Hudson guests get first priority for seatings, natch. Rooms from $32,500 per month —Daniel Dumas

The brand’s three Manhattan locations have long been the smart traveler’s pick for affordable city lodging, and now, like so many city people, the Arlo group has made the jump into Brooklyn. On the site of the former Hotel Williamsburg, the most eye-catching of the luxury hotels to hit the hip ’hood in the 2010s, Arlo Williamsburg is the exact right home base for a New York City getaway. Brooklyn buzzes outside each room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, while a rooftop pool and a bar and event space inside the Arlo’s landmark water tower offer views of the full sweep of Manhattan’s skyline.

It seems so close you could touch it, but with all of Billyburg’s bars, restaurants, shops, and general people-watching just steps from the front door, you may decide to skip the quick trip on the L and stay local. The company’s focus on art and interesting programming has survived the trip across the river. And out here you can stand in the middle of your room, extend both arms, and not touch a wall. Try that in Manhattan. Rooms from $400 —D.H.

On one end of the travel-fantasy spectrum, there is the blissed-out, blue-skies-and-beaches vacation. The stuff postcards are made of. Nothing wrong with seeking that. Toward the other end is the kind where you imagine yourself as a neighborhood local. You tap into the rhythm of the vibrant daily life in the blocks around you and feel as if you’ve merged with a hipper, alternate-universe version of yourself.

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Placestravelweek.ca6 Nov

“The ultimate multi-destination playground”: Yucatán Tourism

Maya ruins, freshwater cenotes, historic haciendas and some seriously good food: Yucatán has plenty going for it, and getting there from Canada is about to become easier. With new nonstop service to Mérida and more tour operator packages available, the Mexican state is looking to make inroads with Canadian travellers this winter. For this edition of Take 5, we find out what travel advisors need to know about selling Yucatán, in a chat with Laura Nesteanu, Global SVP at GMS and Account Director for Yucatán Tourism.

1. It’s easier than ever for Canadians to get to Yucatán this winter. What can you share in terms of airline lift and tour operator packages from Canada?

“Canadians will have more ways to fly nonstop into Mérida this winter. Air Canada’s new seasonal service from Toronto begins Nov. 21, with two flights a week, complementing WestJet’s existing seasonal Toronto service. WestJet is also scheduled to start weekly nonstop flights from Calgary on Dec. 17, giving travellers in Western Canada a new gateway to Yucatán.

“Air Canada Vacations begins selling guided Yucatán tours in November, a six-day Merida City Break uses Mérida as a base for visits to Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, Valladolid and the cenotes of Homún, and an eight-day Mexico Lindo – Yucatan Journey pairing Mexico City and Mérida.

“Meanwhile travelbrands and Goway developed Yucatán packages that are available to book now. Advisors can work with either operator to personalize an itinerary around their clients’ interests, preferred pace and style of travel, whether that means more time on the coast, a stay in a historic hacienda or a trip built around Yucatán’s cuisine.”

2. What makes Yucatán such a special destination?

“With winter approaching in Canada, warm weather is a big reason to put Yucatán on your list. Mérida is just over four hours away on a nonstop flight from Toronto, so it’s easy to plan a week in the sun. Cancún and Tulum are also gateways to eastern Yucatán for travellers combining destinations on the peninsula.

“Peace of mind matters, too. The 2026 Mexico Peace Index ranked Yucatán the country’s most peaceful state for the ninth consecutive year. Mérida, a past winner in Condé Nast Traveler’s small city category, gives visitors a warm introduction to the state, with a walkable historic centre, lively markets and neighbourhoods that are easy to explore.

“What makes Yucatán special is how much you can experience in one trip. Spend a day on the Gulf coast in Progreso or Sisal, swim in a freshwater cenote, or look for flamingos in the Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Explore Chichén Itzá, Uxmal or Ek Balam, then see how Maya traditions live on in the food and crafts of towns such as Valladolid and Izamal, the Yellow City.

“Our cuisine has an identity all its own within Mexico. Try slow-cooked cochinita pibil at a market or sopa de lima at a neighbourhood restaurant, then see how local chefs are making those flavours their own. Three Yucatán restaurants earned a MICHELIN Star each in the state’s debut in the 2026 guide.

“For Canadians who want to stay beyond a week or two, Yucatán also has an established snowbird community. The affordable day-to-day lifestyle, charming historic homes and neighbourhood markets make it easy to settle in and spend part of the winter here.”

Stealing a kiss in Parque Santa Lucia, Merida

3. Many Canadians want to go beyond the beach and explore more than one destination during their holiday. What does Yucatán offer in this regard?

“For Canadian travellers who want to move beyond the traditional sun-and-sand bubble, Yucatán State is the ultimate multi-destination playground.

“What makes this region so unique is its diverse concentration of experiences packed into a highly accessible, compact geography. Instead of committing to a single, static beach resort, Canadians can easily weave three or four entirely different vacations into one trip. You can wake up in a historic colonial city, spend the afternoon swimming in a hidden jungle sinkhole, and fall asleep at a restored 19th-century agave hacienda. It is a destination designed for curiosity and independent exploration.

“We generally see travellers anchoring their itineraries around our distinct cultural hubs and “Pueblos Mágicos” (Magical Towns). Mérida, our vibrant capital, serves as the perfect urban base with its thriving culinary scene and beautifully converted boutique mansion hotels. From there, it is an easy drive to Valladolid, a walkable colonial town, or Izamal, a striking micro-destination where every single building in the historic centre is painted a brilliant golden yellow.

“These towns aren’t just scenic backdrops; they are living communities where visitors can genuinely engage with modern Maya culture, local art, and regional gastronomy.

“For those interested in history and eco-adventure, the state offers incredible variety without the crowds. While iconic landmarks like Chichén Itzá are spectacular, we love pointing travellers toward the Ruta Puuc in the south. This driving loop connects stunning, crowd-free Maya ruins like Uxmal with historic haciendas, allowing for a much more intimate look at ancient architecture.

“You can then seamlessly pivot from history to nature, whether that means ‘cenote hopping’ through the subterranean limestone caverns of Homún or taking a boat safari to see thousands of wild pink flamingos in the Celestún Biosphere Reserve.”

4. Canadians are known for their affection for all-inclusive resorts. What do you want travel advisors to know about Yucatán’s hotels and resorts?

“When selling Yucatán State to Canadian clients, travel advisors should frame the region not as a competitor to the massive all-inclusive strips of Quintana Roo, but as a completely different category of luxury.

“While Canadians naturally gravitate toward mega-resorts for predictability and convenience, Yucatán offers an experiential alternative defined by deep heritage, character, and tranquility. Instead of bottomless swim-up bars and sprawling buffet lines, this region excels at intimate, high-end pampering where the destination itself is the main attraction. It is the perfect sell for clients who want to be immersed in culture without sacrificing premium comfort.

“The crown jewels of the region’s hospitality scene are its historic 19th-century haciendas, which have been meticulously restored into ultra-luxury boutique sanctuaries. Properties like the internationally acclaimed Chablé Yucatán offer standalone casitas, private pools, and world-class spas built directly over sacred cenotes. Advisors can pitch these estates as exclusive, character-driven retreats that trade crowd-filled complexes for tailored, chef-driven gastronomy, private tequila collections, and wellness rituals grounded in local Maya traditions. It is an unmatched level of privacy that no standard mega-resort can replicate.

“For design-conscious travellers, the state boasts a growing collection of globally recognized boutique stays and hidden coastal lodges. This includes jungle-enclosed hideaways like Galopina – which has earned a prestigious MICHELIN Key for its intimate, five-suite forest reserve layout—as well as chic urban design hotels like Künük Boutique Hotel in Mérida. On the coast, minimalist beach retreats like Club de Patos in Sisal offer unpretentious, raw luxury right on the sand.

These properties excel at personalized touches, such as home-cooked breakfasts, evening mezcal tastings, and hosts who double as expert local concierges.

“The strategic pitch for advisors is to highlight the value of splitting a stay to create a seamless, high-end itinerary. By pairing three nights at a secluded hacienda with a couple of nights in a chic Mérida boutique hotel, you can curate a dynamic vacation where archeological ruins, cenotes, and vibrant local culture are right at the client’s doorstep. For the Canadian market, this completely removes the hidden costs and long transit times of resort-based e

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