A major carrier has unveiled the first in a fleet of ultra-long-range planes that will take passengers on direct flights from the East Coast of Australia to London and New York. Back in 2017, Australia's flag carrier Qantas announced plans for the long-haul flights, with services covering around 10,000 nautical miles in around 22 hours, becoming the longest commercial flights ever.

The airline opted for Airbus' A350-1000ULR with an additional fuel tank for the new offering known as Project Sunrise, ordering 12 of them in the spring of 2022. In a post on Instagram today (Monday, April 13), Qantas showed off pictures of the first of the new jets after having its engines installed, marking a major milestone for the project.

The direct route will be four hours quicker than the existing one-stop options and means that Europe-bound connections no longer need to stop off in the Middle East.

The colossal flying machines are being assembled at an Airbus facility in Toulouse, France. The flights will offer four travel classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First.

Economy looks set to feature a fairly standard seating arrangement with an entertainment touchscreen and Bluetooth audio connectivity for 140 passengers.

It's a bit roomier in Premium Economy, with 40 seats featuring a "winged privacy headrest that adjusts for maximum comfort, and a calf rest that allows for full leg cradling".

In Business, there will be 52 "suites" with a sliding door for additional privacy, "combined with innovative design and materials to deliver exceptional in-flight comfort", the airline says.

Meanwhile, the option for First Class cabin on the A350 "blurs the lines between air travel and boutique accommodation".

The planes will have six enclosed cabins with a "two-metre-long (80in) flat bed and separate reclining armchair to deliver the ultimate in luxury".

And if passengers need to get up and stretch their legs - or fight the jet lag - there is also a Wellbeing Zone, described as a "dedicated space for movement with guided wellbeing content and a selection of healthy refreshments - available to all passengers".

Commercial flights are expected to begin early next year, AeroTime reports.