Qantas to Order Planes for ‘Project Sunrise’ Long-Haul Routes

Qantas Airways Ltd. will place an order for ultra long-range planes from Airbus SE or Boeing Co. next year, starting the clock for the two manufacturers to win over the airline. The planes, which must be able to fly from Sydney to London or New York without a break with a full payload, will be delivered in 2022, Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce told reporters on Monday at the International Air Transport Association’s meeting in Sydney. Project Sunrise, as the airline calls it, would put Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, New York or Paris within direct reach of Australia’s eastern seaboard, according to Qantas.