Qantas is elevating its Airbus A380 First Class offering with a suite of premium upgrades as the airline prepares for the launch of its landmark Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights. The refreshed experience—centered on wellness, personalization, and fine dining—will begin rolling out across the international network from December 2025 and reach all A380 routes by mid-2026.
The enhancements represent a major investment in customer experience at the top end of the market, as global airlines intensify their focus on premium cabins to fuel long-haul revenue growth. For Qantas, the new First Class product will serve as a flagship introduction to the extended flight durations expected under Project Sunrise, which will link Australia’s east coast with cities like New York and London nonstop.
Fine Dining at 40,000 Feet
A central feature of the A380 First Class redesign is a renewed culinary collaboration with Neil Perry, Qantas’ Creative Director of Food and Beverage and the chef behind Sydney’s acclaimed restaurant Margaret. Passengers departing from Australia will now enjoy signature dishes from Margaret, adapted for the in-flight environment.
Menu highlights include:
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Margaret’s tartare of yellowfin tuna with gochujang, toasted sesame, and baby cos
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Roasted Wollemi duck with orange caramel, crisp Chinese greens, golden sesame, and jasmine rice (GF)
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Crumbed Margra lamb cutlets with shaved fennel, pine nuts, rocket, salsa verde, and lemon
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Neil Perry’s Gran Torino Torta Di Verona with Amaretto and toasted almonds
The upgrades extend to the beverage program, featuring a renewed focus on high-end Australian wine and expanded cocktails. Premium champagne offerings include Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 and Pommery Cuvée Louise 2006, reinforcing the airline’s emphasis on a luxury, restaurant-quality experience in the sky.
Wellness and Jetlag Mitigation
The upgrade program places particular emphasis on sleep quality and wellness—key factors as Qantas prepares to launch flights lasting up to 20 hours under Project Sunrise. First Class travelers will have access to an expanded on-demand dining system, allowing customers to eat when they choose in order to maximize rest.
Qantas describes these service updates as part of a broader strategy to support passenger wellbeing on ultra-long-haul flights. Premium champagne, redesigned cabin materials, and comfort-focused amenities are all engineered to help reduce jetlag and create a more restorative in-flight environment.
Exclusive Aesop Amenity Kits and New Sleepwear
In addition to dining and service enhancements, Qantas is introducing three new amenity kit designs created exclusively for its First Class customers. The kits feature premium Aesop skincare and travel essentials, including:
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Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm – 15ml
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Aesop Rinse-Free Hand Wash – 50ml
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Aesop Cedar & Citrus Lip Salve – 9ml
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Aesop Toothpaste – 10ml
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Eau de Parfum – 2ml
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Block-out luxurious eyeshade
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Bamboo toothbrush with reusable cap
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3M earplugs
To complement the kits, passengers will also receive new navy Qantas-designed pyjamas and loafer-style slippers aimed at improving sleep comfort on long-distance routes.
Shaped by Customer Trials and Cabin Crew Insights
Qantas says each change was informed by customer research, in-flight trials, and feedback from cabin crew. According to Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace, the airline’s First Class customers expect a travel experience defined by meticulous detail.
“Our customers fly First because they value the quality in every detail.
On longer flights, a fine dining experience, premium amenities, and complete comfort really matter, so we’ve focused on improving each of these areas.
Our incredible Cabin Crew have been undergoing in-flight trials and an intensive training program. It is great to welcome new premium partners onboard, and we look forward to delivering this new experience for our First customers.”
The airline highlights these updates as evidence of its commitment to continuous improvement ahead of the most ambitious phase of its long-haul strategy.
Global A380 Routes to Receive Upgrades
The refreshed First Class service will appear on Qantas A380 flights operating between Sydney and major international gateways, including:
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Singapore (SIN)
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London (LHR)
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Los Angeles (LAX)
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Johannesburg (JNB)
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Dallas (DFW)
All A380 First Class routes are expected to feature the upgraded product by mid-2026, aligning with the Project Sunrise rollout timeline.
Looking Ahead
With these enhancements, Qantas is positioning its First Class cabin as a premium benchmark for long-haul and ultra-long-haul air travel. As customer expectations rise and nonstop flight durations increase, the airline’s upgraded dining, wellness, and amenity offerings aim to strengthen its competitive edge in the global premium travel market.
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