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Quest Means Business
Trump Defends U.S.-Iran Deal; By-election Could Lead to Labour Leadership Challenge; Airbus Building Special Ultra-Long-Range Plane for Qantas; How to Survive a 22-Hour Flight. World's Longest Nonstop Commercial Flight Prepares to Launch; fed Signals Possible Rate Hikes as New Chair Takes Over; Qantas CEO: Turning Geographic Disadvantage into Advantage. Aired 4:00p-5p ET
Aired June 17, 2026 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[16:01:01]
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": Good evening tonight from Toulouse in France for a special edition of QUEST MEANS
BUSINESS. We are at the home of Airbus, and behind me you have the ultra- long range A350-1000. That's the way they are looking.
We've also, over the course of the next hour, be bringing you up-to-date with the markets and how they've been trading on what has been an extremely
busy day.
The market and the main events. No more forward guidance. The new Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh, shakes things up at his very first meeting. The
decision on what they did that wasn't the big news.
Qantas announces the inaugural route for project sunrise. It's Sydney to London and it launches in 2027 October.
And the jet lag, the scourge of all long haul travelers, myself included. Tonight, one of the world's leading experts. He is going to give me the
strategy for minimizing the suffering, if such be possible.
Good evening. Tonight, live from Toulouse, from Airbus on Wednesday, June the 17th. I am Richard Quest and at Airbus, you better believe, I mean
business.
Good evening.
History continues to be made here in Toulouse, the world's longest flight from London to Sydney will launch next year and this is the aircraft that
they will be using for it.
Behind me was the plane that will be making the journey. It is an Airbus A350-1000 ULR. ULR stands for Ultra Long Range designed to handle the
record breaking flight time. It is the culmination of a year's long relationship and partnership between Airbus and Qantas.
On this program tonight, you'll hear from both of them. You'll hear from the chief executive of Airbus Commercial Aviation, Lars Wagner. You'll hear
from the CEO of Qantas, Vanessa Hudson. I will even speak to the sleep expert about how we are all going to cope on a 24-hour journey.
First, though, I need to start with the news of the day. The hawkish statement from the Federal Reserve as Kevin Warsh takes over as Chair of
the Fed. The Central Bank voted unanimously to keep its benchmark interest rate on hold.
The statement was notably short, and it highlighted robust growth, with inflation remaining elevated.
A short time ago, Mr. Warsh announced five task forces to review the Fed's practices on data, communications and so many things more. He also spoke
about the Fed dropping forward guidance, and said the committee felt it was not suitable for the current environment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN WARSH, U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: I reviewed the dot-plots and when I saw the submissions, I noted that all the submissions were coming in
with pencils. You know, those kind with the big erasers? That's to say that I think my colleagues around the table, when they submitted their dots
understand the world is changing quite quickly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Good Lord! Matt Egan is at the Federal Reserve. He joins me now. Is Kevin Warsh suggesting when it is dot-plot time, they all sort of look at
what everybody else is doing and change their decisions.
MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, Richard Kevin Warsh has long been a critic of the dot-plot, so it is not shocking that he is calling for
changes and that one of the dots in this meeting was missing.
Kevin Warsh. He has been calling for regime change at the Fed for years. And today, I think he made clear that he was serious about that. Right? He
doesn't want incremental subtle changes to this institution. He wants sweeping changes, right?
[16:05:10]
He is launching this task force that could change how the Federal Reserve communicates with the public, how it thinks about inflation, how it is
measuring economic data. All of these changes are designed, he says, to try to really get at the core goal here, right, which is to get inflation back
to target.
Warsh was not shy about calling out the fact that the Fed, for five years now has missed its inflation target. And Richard, he was emphatic that they
will get price stability back.
QUEST: Okay, but if he is so hawkish and a lot of his speech or his press conference was hawkish, why did they not raise rates? Nine members of the
committee think there will be a rate rise before the end of the year. What was the justification for not buying insurance now?
EGAN: It is a great question, Richard, and it is one that Kevin Warsh left unanswered. Right? He was asked that directly and he went back to the Fed's
statement. He didn't explicitly explain this friction because you're absolutely right. On the one hand, he is saying we are going to get
inflation back to target, and we are going to restore price stability.
On the other hand, we have a world where inflation has gotten worse since the last time the Fed met. A growing number of Fed officials are penciling
in interest rate hikes. And yet, the Warsh led fed in its first meeting, has decided not to change interest rates at all.
QUEST: Matt Egan, who is in Washington at the Fed. I am grateful, Matt.
Chair Warsh has argued artificial intelligence will reduce inflationary pressures. It is a similar argument that we've heard in the past, notably
from Alan Greenspan, but on economic voices, on A.I., former Fed Chair Janet Yellen and top economic adviser, Jared Bernstein wrote in May that
Warsh is wrong.
They argue through higher investment and wealth effects, the A.I. boom will raise demand and cause higher prices.
Meanwhile, the former World Bank President David Malpass, wrote in "The Journal" that this view is inaccurate and Warsh is on the right track.
David Malpass is with me now. He is the Vice Chair of American Global Strategies, and it is always good to see you, Mr. President, former head.
Look, we are moving into a really fascinating time for, if you like, Fed geeks like me in the sense that the battle is no longer something as blunt,
raise rates, don't raise rates. Do this, don't do that. Now, we are really talking about the shift in monetary policy in its widest sense.
DAVID MALPASS, VICE CHAIR, AMERICAN GLOBAL STRATEGIES: Hi, Richard. Yes, there is a lot at stake. One of the things in the statement was the
continuation of ample reserves. So that's a core policy of the Fed, but only in recent years. So as they think about the size of the balance sheet,
as they think about the inflation framework, which is one of the task forces, they will be thinking about whether these mechanisms are the right
ones for our current time.
I like that the chairman was talking about that the dynamism of the economy now and how there was some implication that the Fed hasn't kept up with the
pace of change of the economy. I think that's really important to keep in mind.
QUEST: A lot of the arguments that he is advancing are well-rehearsed and well-known. They have been, if not rejected, at least not adopted by policy
makers.
So the fact that he is putting them on the table to a fed that has already considered them, he is going to -- is he going to have a battle to get some
of these ideas through?
MALPASS: I am sure there will be changes. Anytime you're trying to make changes, there are battles and he calls it a family fight, which I think is
a great phrase, but what you saw was a unanimous decision. So that's a good starting point for the Fed.
Then the question is, are the task forces able to make recommendations and move quickly enough to get changes? The world is going so fast now with
productivity changes, with new science, with new ways to price things.
You know, I am worried that the concept of annual inflation is not really the right framework, but they will have a task force and they will think
about it.
QUEST: But they have to get inflation down to target. Their credibility is on the line. If they don't use the policy rate, is it just a wing and a
prayer? I mean, the oil price shock may not pass through into second rate second factor effects.
[16:10:06]
But how else are you going to get it down to two percent? Or have you abandoned the target?
MALPASS: Richard, you know, I am a bit of a skeptic on whether high interest rates causes inflation to go down. I think it puts the burden on
small businesses and you get less investment and it doesn't bring it down. That's what we saw in the Biden administration.
They had the rates high and the inflation rate didn't -- or they were raising the rates thinking it would work and it didn't work. But already,
you see, former Secretary Yellen and Jared Bernstein saying that that's the wrong way to think about it, that you have to go directly at the demand in
the economy.
So I think that's this core issue of are we thinking that the economy is dynamic from the supply side, or are we, in my mind, they are looking
backward that we've always talked about demand in the past, and that's what we want to do now.
QUEST: Do you believe that the inflation we are seeing -- I hesitate to use the word transitory, but it is oil related. Now, there is a peace agreement
that inflation is likely to abate, if not completely, but sufficiently.
MALPASS: I think it depends some on the production of the economy, not just the U.S. economy, but the global economy. So I think supply and demand are
dynamic and if you can create a better world, then inflation can come down more quickly.
The Fed put out their forecast today. So one thing -- a couple of notable points, the growth rate is pretty low, not only this year, but next year
for the U.S. and the inflation rate only comes down gradually a little bit.
And so I think that the economy can do much better than what is in those forecasts.
QUEST: David, one last question. Completely unrelated. Assuming you're flying from New York to Sydney, Australia, would you prefer to go nonstop
or would you stop -- prefer to stop on the way?
MALPASS: Richard, I am a nonstop. I like to get it done. I don't like going to distant meetings, especially if it is going to be a conference where
people just talk and talk and talk. So I'd rather get it over with.
QUEST: Thank you, David. Thank you very much.
I have the plane for you right behind me here. David Malpass joining me.
MALPASS: Thank you.
QUEST: Coming up next, this is the plane -- that is -- this is the plane that Qantas is connecting Sydney to the other side of the world, new York
and London. No stopping. I will speak to Vanessa Hudson, the CEO, about Project Sunrise.
QUEST MEANS BUSINESS live in Toulouse.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:15:28]
QUEST: What a beauty! There is the shot that really shows. That's us over here. I am over here. I am right over here and that's the plane. The A350-
1000 ULR. This is the first test of six that they are going to be having in total. They are going to have 12.
We are in Toulouse tonight where Qantas is building custom planes for what is being called, the final frontier of aviation.
It is Project Sunrise, the first nonstop service between Sydney and London. But that really doesn't explain it all. Sydney-London, Sydney-New York,
because Qantas and Airbus and Rolls-Royce have been working towards this achievement for nearly ten years, and it is a concept, actually, if you
think about it, that goes back much further.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST (voice over): For nearly a century, airlines have been trying to solve one problem: How do you get from Australia to the other side of the
world without stopping on the way?
Qantas believes it finally has the answer. It is called Project Sunrise and now, it is entering its final phase. It promises nonstop flights from
Sydney to London and Sydney to New York.
To understand why this project is so important, go back to where the story began. It is called the Kangaroo Route, a trip from Sydney to London that
took four days with seven stops to complete when it first launched, it was the fastest way at the time.
Eight years ago, I retraced that historic route.
Even then, airlines were dreaming of something more ambitious. The nonstop flight. Qantas is realizing that ambition by relaunching the Kangaroo Route
as a direct flight.
In 2019, I was able to experience the future firsthand. Qantas invited me aboard a Project Sunrise test flight designed to answer that simple
question. Could passengers comfortably spend an entire day in the year? What were the strains on the cockpit and cabin crew who would have to work
those flights?
The answer it seemed, all was possible.
Years later, that test flight is now very close to being a reality. The airlines especially modified Airbus A350-1000 are designed to fly from
Sydney to London or New York without stopping.
The flights could last as long as 22 hours. It would be the longest commercial journeys ever attempted.
To achieve all this, Airbus has added an extra fuel tank and increased the aircraft's range by roughly a thousand nautical miles.
Project Sunrise isn't only about fuel, it is about passengers. The aircraft will carry fewer passengers than a typical long haul jet, and it will
feature dedicated wellness areas. Every part of the plane has been redesigned. The lighting systems are designed to reduce jet lag and help
travelers adjust to new time zones.
Very soon, the Kangaroo will be going from Sydney to London and New York, only this time in one hop.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: And if you're wondering, by the way, where that extra fuel tank is, just behind the wing, there is an extension on the belly fairing, as it is
known, and just behind there and that is where they put the extra fuel tank.
The chief executive of Qantas, Vanessa Hudson, told me that the new plane will use Australia's geography to its advantage. The plane will fly east or
west. It doesn't matter which way, depending on the weather, capitalizing on Australia's location.
Vanessa Hudson has seen this project through from the beginning. She was the serving CFO at the time when the company approved the project, so she
is very much vested in Project Sunrise.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VANESSA HUDSON, CEO, QANTAS: It has been a long journey to get to this moment, but in, you know, reflecting myself, I went back in history and the
objective of solving this tyranny of distance we've talked about that is what Qantas was founded on.
[16:20:10 ]
Our founders, McGinness and Hudson were motivated to close the tyranny of distance in Outback Queensland and started a small airline, you know, of
flights between Cloncurry and Charleville and, you know, that was what our organization was founded on and that mission, you could say, has been there
ever since.
QUEST: I did the Kangaroo Route, the original Kangaroo Route, all six or seven stops. And it was -- I mean, it was an arduous time.
HUDSON: It was.
QUEST: To actually do all of that, to be able to do this in one stop. But why is this better than -- much better than the one stop, the Kangaroo
either via Singapore or Dubai.
Well, the one thing that we have got is experience and Project Sunrise has not been based on a leap of faith that customers will want this. We are
already flying some of the longest sectors of any airline in the world, Perth-London, Auckland to New York and what we have learned -- we've been
doing that for seven years.
And the feedback that we have had from our customers is just how much they value avoiding the midpoint, going nonstop and those routes are delivering
some of the highest customer satisfaction of any flight that we have, some of the highest seat factors and the best commercial performance.
QUEST: Because that commercial performance with oil -- now with the jet fuel now are at least elevated. Your percentage of cost of fuel for the
flight is higher than the long legs that you're running. Can you make money?
HUDSON: Well, look, absolutely. But you don't make an investment in an aircraft like this on short term, you know, I suppose geopolitical moments.
This is a 20-year investment. And so, what we have seen in terms of what customers value, what they are prepared to pay for on those existing
flights, that is what our business case is based off, on reality.
QUEST: The ability to have this competitive advantage, at the moment you're going to have 12 of these aircraft. So you'll have six on the two major
routes, and then you'll deploy the others elsewhere. That's going to be quite -- you're going to have to milk this advantage for as long as you
can.
HUDSON: Well, look, having a competitive advantage in aviation is a rare thing, Richard, and I think that when we kind of sense that we could get
there, we got really motivated behind that and why do we think it is a competitive advantage? For a couple of reasons.
Over my history at Qantas, we have spoken a lot about our geographic disadvantage where Australia is positioned on the globe right at the
southern end of where we are and so often, it has been our disadvantage.
It is now playing to our advantage because of that geography. We can fly these aircraft West and East.
QUEST: I learned this.
HUDSON: Yes.
QUEST: So I also learned you can go to London up over the Pacific.
HUDSON: Up over the pole and down the other side.
QUEST: You can take it either way.
HUDSON: Either way. And this is the capability that I've -- I was talking about in terms of what makes me so proud as a CEO.
We have got pilots, technical engineers that have been working on these flight plans with real weather data, wind data and there is absolutely a
time of the year that this aircraft, the fastest route from Sydney to London, will be up over Japan, over the pole and down the other side. So it
is so exciting.
But then, you know, that competitive advantage, this aircraft has got the capability to fly. It is based solidly on what we know is our home market
strength, what our traffic rights are. So we are very excited about what this aircraft is going to do for us.
QUEST: Like every national carrier, there is a love-hate relationship with the populace. Air France has got it. British Airways, Lufthansa, every one
of you has got it. Do you -- can you feel the mood has shifted in Australia for Qantas?
HUDSON: Look, I think that our focus is to make all Australians proud of Qantas and that love-hate that you talk about, I actually celebrate that
because when we disappoint, we disappoint significantly, but when we perform, you know we make everyone proud and that is something that keeps
us on our toes.
We are -- I am a CEO that wants to make every Australian proud of what Qantas can do. I think that we have the spirit of Australia on our
fuselage. And you know, we want to embody that and that that character that is about, you know, punching above our weight. It is about being brave. It
is about, you know, bringing that kind of Australian ingenuity to the world.
[16:255:10]
And I think this aircraft is going to demonstrate that on a global level. And, you know, we couldn't be more proud.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: And that's Vanessa Hudson, the Chief Executive of Qantas.
Later in the show, I will show you why they've changed everything on this aircraft. And I mean, right the way down to the teaspoons.
President Trump has been trumpeting his agreement with Iran. He says it has avoided an economic catastrophe. But what a price! In a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Hello, I am Richard Quest. There is a lot more QUEST MEANS BUSINESS coming up in a moment. I will be talking to the chief executive of Airbus
Commercial, aircraft about the technology and the sales and the way in which this new London to Sydney route is possible.
And two decisive moments for England. A World Cup match with Croatia and a bi-election in England that could reshape the government and Westminster.
Before that, this is CNN and here on this network, the news always comes first.
President Trump says he is working with India on a new trade deal and he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a tough negotiator. The leaders met on
the final day of the G7 Summit in France. Mr. Trump says he will be going to India sometime in the future.
And the President's pick for Fed Chair has held his first policy meeting as the Chairman of the Central Bank. Interest rates are staying put. The Fed
announced that it has voted unanimously to keep rates on hold. Half of the committee is now predicting a rate rise sometime this year. Chair Warsh
expects to hear fewer predictions going forward from the Fed.
The families of eight women who were killed between 1993 and 2010 saw partial justice yesterday. On Wednesday, Rex Heuermann was sentenced to
life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to the murders.
In 2010, the remains of four women were found on an isolated stretch of Gilgo Beach on Long Island in New York. He was arrested in 2023, thirty
years after the first victim went missing.
[16:30:22]
The president, President Trump, has defended his deal with Iran, saying it helps avert an economic catastrophe. The White House has released its 14-
point Memorandum of Understanding. In it, the U.S. is to lift its military blockade, whilst Iran must remove obstacles to ensure that traffic passes
through the Straits of Hormuz, returned to pre-war levels within 30 days. The deal also includes an Iranian pledge never to develop nuclear weapons.
But the key points around its nuclear program have been left for further negotiations during the next 60 days.
At his closing remarks at the G7, the president, U.S. president, announced a prolonged conflict could have hit markets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So the one thing I didn't want to see is I didn't want to see economic catastrophe. If you kept this
going, that could have happened, but all I know is every time we talked about the possibility of peace, the stock market shot up like a rocket
ship. It never went down. They didn't like it, the people. You know, the stock market is more brilliant than anybody there is, including the people
on this stage other than me, of course.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: The White House correspondent Alayna Treene joins me now.
He loves the stock market as a predictor. But in doing so, he really did show how sensitive he is to its machinations, having earlier basically
said, I don't care about what happens to Americans' wallets.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely. It was a clear admission of what I've been hearing in my conversations with officials, Richard, for
weeks now. And I would note, actually, I had a story out late last night breaking down what officials have said recently about this. One of them, of
course, as they've been discussing this Memorandum of Understanding, you know, reservations -- raising reservations with the president about if Iran
would really honor its commitments.
But one of the things as well that has been clear, and I picked this up in my conversations, including some with those involved in these U.S.-Iran
talks, who said basically every single person in the West Wing had wanted to get this war over with. Some had different motivations, you know, some
on the political team, people like the White House chief of staff Susie Wiles worried about the president's political legacy, worried about
Republicans' chances in November.
You had Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, someone who was here at the Palace of Versailles tonight with President Trump for dinner with the
French president, you know, making the case about the impact on the economy, obviously, that point that the president was making on stock
markets. You have the Energy Secretary Chris Wright really worried about the energy market.
So this is something that has been the case, just not something, of course, Trump has been wanting to say publicly. He did so today on the cusp of the
signing, the formal signing, I should say, of this, agreed-to text here in Europe on Friday.
QUEST: Alayna Treene. I've just realized, Alayna, you're over in Versailles. I'm down here in Toulouse. We're both in France. We're about
400 miles to each other. If only we'd known we could have got together for a glass of wine. Good to see you, Alayna Treene, in Versailles.
TREENE: Yes, right? I think have the superior backdrop but --
QUEST: Oh, now you're talking to a plane geek here. Fine. You've got the Palace of Versailles with its gild. I've got a plane. Good to see you.
Thank you very much.
I think she's right actually. She has got the better backdrop.
England are now one goal ahead of Croatia in their opening match of the World Cup at the Dallas Stadium in Texas. You're watching live pictures of
fans supporting the national side. Croatia is a disappointing start. England's captain, Harry Kane, scored a penalty for England in the 12th
minute. He retook it after the Croatian goalkeeper, saved it, but was deemed to be off his line.
Staying in English news for the moment, a local by-election in the U.K. could be pivotal in the future of British politics. Why? Because if
Labour's Andy Burnham, the current mayor of Greater Manchester, wins, within days he's likely or could challenge Sir Keir Starmer to be prime
minister.
Clare Sebastian has visited the constituents of Makerfield to see what's at stake when voters go to the polls as they traditionally do on a Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, look, we've got Andy Burnham voters there. We've got Reform voters over there, and we've even got Restore
voters over there. What does this tell us about the mood here in this constituency?
[16:35:02]
CLARE HANNAH, JOURNALIST, "WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WIGAN": This is one of the most divisive by-elections I have ever seen. Both visibly divisive. It's
become quite aggressive, to be honest.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Two days before one of the most consequential by- elections the U.K. has ever seen, this area that has voted Labour for generations is seeing neighbors at odds. At lunchtime customers at the
Muffin Man Bakery split over who should get the biggest slice of the electoral pie.
Do you mind telling us who you voted for?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Andy Burnham.
SEBASTIAN: Yes, OK. Why is that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It goes back to leader. I actually think Keir Starmer is doing a good job. But I think Nigel Farage is the most untrustworthy
politician since Boris Johnson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reform.
SEBASTIAN: You did? Why is that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I voted for him last time.
SEBASTIAN: You did?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Immigration. Biggest issue.
SEBASTIAN: Immigration for you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SEBASTIAN: In this small collection of former coal mining towns in the north west of England, around 75,000 registered voters may now decide the
political future for almost 70 million British citizens. And yet the sudden spotlight on this area has highlighted divisions that could shape national
politics in the U.K. for years to come.
PAUL SPARKS, SCHOOL TEACHER: Ladies, who you're voting for?
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): An impromptu straw poll on the high street showing what's at stake.
SPARKS: So far this is what seems to be happening. We seem to be finding that Andy Burnham is winning narrowly. And Reform and Restore are splitting
the vote, the right-wing vote.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Robert Kenyon representing Nigel Farage's far-right Reform U.K., has been a close second in polls here. Restore Britain's
candidate Rebecca Sheppard, even further to the right, is also gathering steam. No sign on the high street pole of the Conservative Party, the
official opposition in parliament.
Why are people not even voting Conservative? Why are they edging towards these far-right parties? What has happened to suddenly create this
splintering in terms of the public opinion here?
HANNAH: A massive issue on this is immigration. That's a massive issue and people believe, you know, what they're told by, you know, people, look at
what's happening in the world and immigration has become the biggest issue, I would say. I think some parties campaign on issues that make people
angry. You know, they will campaign on things that make people angry. And, you know, this is what happens. You know, we get all this division.
SEBASTIAN: But what is it about Reform that makes sense to you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, they're going to get rid of stopping the boats coming in because that's ridiculous.
SEBASTIAN: Wouldn't that migration has actually been coming down over the last couple of years under this government.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a load of rubbish.
SEBASTIAN: What makes you say that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because it's proven that they're everywhere.
SEBASTIAN: Why do you think Burnham will be the one to --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, leave me.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Almost everyone here agrees on one thing. After a month in the political spotlight, they've had enough.
All right.
(Voice-over): Almost everyone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've enjoyed it really, being the focus of attention.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Clare Sebastian, CNN, in Greater Manchester, England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: Now one point to note, look at the fans. Croatia has just scored equalizing in the -- this is the fan zone that we can show you at the
moment. Look at that celebrations. Croatia just scored in the World Cup. Not surprisingly, Zagreb. They are celebrating. But there's still some way
to go. Some way to go.
Coming up next, Airbus and the ultra-long haul plane for Project Sunrise. Chief executive of commercial aircraft says it's like no other plane.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARS WAGNER, CEO, AIRBUS COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT: This plane will fly 10,000 nautical miles, so it's really for Quantas connecting the country, the
continent with, so Sydney to London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:41:13]
QUEST: It obviously takes a very special airplane to fly 22 hours with no stops. It weighs 322. Maximum takeoff weight 322 tons. But Qantas itself
has asked people and asked its creators and its designers to do things differently. Take, for example, these bowls. They look the same but holding
them I can tell you this is considerably lighter. It is the same with the cutlery. They look the same, but one is much, much lighter.
Every aspect of the crockery was redesigned for Project Sunrise. Why? Obviously, if you think about it, there are hundreds of these on the
aircraft. Hundreds. Every little bit counts. If you can get the weight down, the plane flies cheaper and further. So the crockery, the cutlery,
the carts, all redesigned to be grams lighter, which truly adds up. The plane itself is fitted with that extra fuel tank just behind the wing. It
extends the range of the A350 by a thousand nautical miles.
Now chief executive of Airbus Commercial told me, well, whether it's teacups aside, there's nothing quite like this plane.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see this completely different, you know. We're basing this beautiful aircraft, the A350-1000. We're basing that on the already
very successful A350-1000. But we're now adding 20,000 liters of fuel. This plane will fly 10,000 nautical miles. So it's really for Qantas connecting
the country, the continent with, so Sydney to London now, Sydney to New York. The next big step in long haul travel.
QUEST: Why did Airbus go along with this project? At the end of the day, it's a limited number of planes for a very specific route.
WAGNER: So first of all, we had the baseline. Like I said, the dish 1,000 were already in the market. It's a long haul leader in our industry. Then
we're up to a challenge. You know, we see ourselves as a technology leader, as an innovator, leader in our industry, and we wanted to take up the
challenge that Qantas put on us. And back then in 2017, to make this additional long haul step. And we thought, this platform is just a very
good evolution of what we had already.
QUEST: Will Airbus ever make a profit out of this plane? Another 350 for the 1,000 ULR.
WAGNER: Well, so far we have sold 12 for Qantas. I see now -- after the first flight, I see a raising interest of other airlines actually thinking
about more ultra long range capability. And you just need to look at the geographics of the world today where we have no zone, no flight zones. And
so it becomes more and more interestingly for airlines to embark on this ultra long range journey.
QUEST: Now let's just talk about that for a second because at the end of the day, the increase that the ULR gives is considerable, but it's not
dramatic in a sense that the 1000 will do 90 percent of the routes that you'd ever want to do. So the number of people who would be interested in
this sort of aircraft would be for what purpose?
WAGNER: Well, first of all, Richard, there's more behind this plane than just the range. No? Real ultra long haul flight is more than just range.
It's also about the cabin layout. You know, it's the cabin pressure. It's the humidity in the aircraft. We redesigned the whole cabin to make it
really enjoyable for the passengers. This plane usually in 1000 version can go up to 400 pax, no? This one is slightly below 250.
So we have wellbeing zones. You know, we have stretch out zones. You can walk around in the aircraft. We have lighting on there. So it's more than
just the range.
QUEST: Will you be introducing those components onto the other 1000s.
WAGNER: Yes.
[16:45:02]
QUEST: That may not be going as far but are still going 15, 16, 17 hours.
WAGNER: Yes, of course. And not only the 1000s, also the 900. The family of the 350 is a family -- the platform product. So a lot of these technologies
that went into this plane also from a weight perspective, the lighting I just mentioned will go into the other platforms and other products as well.
QUEST: Let's talk about Airbus a little bit wider. You have a very complementary family of planes now, from the 320 to 220, the 320, the 330s,
all the way now to the 350. What do you need do you think to tinker with next? What's the next that you've spotted market that's required?
WAGNER: Well, I'm thinking about two time horizons right now. The short time horizon the next five years, you know, we have successful platforms,
as you say, and the market demands longer aircraft. So we have possibilities, especially on the 220 and on the 350, to stretch the
aircraft, to make it longer. The 320 program is stretched already with a 321 and the XLR as the latest program.
But on the 220 and the 350, we have possibilities to stretch, make it even longer, and increase premium space for the airline. That's another
initiative we see from the market, from the customer. They want more premium segment.
QUEST: What's your next big thing? What are you going to come up with? What are you going to excite me with?
WAGNER: Well, first of all, I'd like to excite you with the products we have right now leading the market --
QUEST: Like my grandmother used to say, so what have you done for me lately?
WAGNER: The next big thing is obviously that we are working on the succession of the current 320 family. Right now the timing goes that the
entry into service will be in the second half of next decade. That means we are right now working on the technology bricks. It's going to see, you
know, fuselage, new fuselage material, a new wing aerodynamic. You know, we have an engine technology, revolutionary engine technology that we see come
to market. And all this needs to be prepared for a successful launch towards the end of the decade. And then you see an entry into service in
the second half of next decade. That's the next big thing in our industry.
QUEST: Right. What is it like working on a project where you pretty much won't be working when it comes along, and it's arguable whether we'll all
still be alive when it actually happens? When you look that far in the future, how difficult is it? You're talking about 38, 39, 40 and you think,
well, I won't be around then, but we'd better do it anyway.
WAGNER: First of all, for me, it was one key question why I came back to Airbus. I wanted to put my fingerprint on the next big thing in our
industry. And you only have that chance once in a lifetime. Every 30 to 40 years, you have this chance. So for me, it's also an emotional background
to come back to Airbus.
I would challenge the question, whether I'm still around when it goes into service, because I might say, yes, I am. So, but it's for the whole team.
It's after 30 and 40 years, the single aisle had its first flight next year, February, 40 years ago.
QUEST: Wow.
WAGNER: So everyone is emotionally connected to the next product, to the next single aisle with technologies that we don't even know yet. The major
breakthrough we work on. But there will be technologies that we don't know yet, and everyone is really excited to think about the future of
sustainable aviation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: Sustainable and all that. Yes, but it's still going to be in the air for 22 hours on that thing.
Coming up next, this gentleman, a professor nonetheless. We've got the best in the world to tell us how to avoid jet lag and how to avoid that
horrible, what time is it? Who am I? After the break.
QUEST MEANS BUSINESS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:51:18]
QUEST: Project Sunrise is set to accomplish what was once thought to be just about impossible. Flying from one end of the world to the other. It's
the way from Sydney to London, and it presents challenges not only for the airline and the airport and everybody else. But what about you and me, the
passenger? 22 hours in the air.
So Qantas has come up with a few ideas. The cabin has a wellbeing zone. There'll be refreshments and guided videos to keep your blood flowing. And
the plane also uses special mood lighting to help passengers avoid jet lag, which is where my next guest, Professor Peter Cistulli, comes in, professor
of sleep medicine at the University of Sydney.
Professor, can we avoid jet lag? You are the world's expert.
PETER CISTULLI, PROFESSOR OF SLEEP MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY: Yes, we can, but there is no magic bullet. But there are many small things we can
do that in combination, if performed coherently, can mitigate jet lag. And that's what Project Sunrise has done.
QUEST: Right. But you're talking about mitigating, not avoiding.
CISTULLI: It's impossible to completely avoid the circadian mismatch that occurs when you cross so many time zones.
QUEST: Why does it happen? What's going on in the brain and the body that causes this feeling of where am I? Who am I?
CISTULLI: Well, the biology is interesting. Every cell in our body operates on a clock system. We have a master clock in the brain that conducts the
orchestra and keeps everything going well. When we cross time zones, there's a mismatch between our destination time zone and our body clock.
And so everything feels out of whack. It's like an orchestra --
QUEST: And there's no medication that one can take? There's no reset button?
CISTULLI: Unfortunately, the reset button has not been discovered yet. We are working on that.
QUEST: Right.
CISTULLI: But in the interim, melatonin is a very important hormone. It's naturally occurring, but you can take melatonin as a medication.
QUEST: Right. So the idea that and an hour a day is what it's the conventional rule of thumb. Is that correct?
CISTULLI: Traveling west, traveling east, it's actually a day and a half per hour of time zone.
QUEST: Why is traveling east worse?
CISTULLI: It's complicated, but most of us have a naturally long rhythm, slightly more than 24 hours.
QUEST: Right.
CISTULLI: And so it's easier to make it longer. 25 percent of people, unfortunately don't.
QUEST: All right. Stand by. Stand by. I want to get your opinion on some products currently on the market and what you think of whether they work on
jet lag. First of all, the sleep mask. Does it help?
CISTULLI: It does to the extent that it blocks out light. But it's critical that the sleep occurs at the correct time, aligned to the destination
night.
QUEST: Noise canceling headphones?
CISTULLI: Yes. To the extent that it reduces noise and sleep disruption.
QUEST: Essential oils. What about those blue light things that you wear -- that you can wear? Blue lights over your eyes?
CISTULLI: Light can be our friend or our enemy. And it's all about the timing of the light.
QUEST: Then there's the final one, which I think you're going to plead the Fifth Amendment on. The good old fashioned, have a bit of booze and all
will be well when you get there.
CISTULLI: Alcohol will get you to sleep faster, but it will disrupt your sleep and probably you won't feel well on the way.
QUEST: Do you get sick and tired of people asking you about jet lag?
CISTULLI: No, I don't, I don't. We're here to help.
QUEST: Thank you very much, sir.
CISTULLI: Thank you.
QUEST: Thank you very much, Professor.
Now, there's one person who is missing here in Toulouse. And we're very sorry because of the reasons. Over the years, there have been countless
people who we've been covered in aviation, in particular, Geoffrey Thomas.
[16:55:04]
Geoffrey Thomas was a journalist and a precursor to Project Sunrise. He was with me on the Perth to London flight. When I went on the inaugural flight
in 2018, I was talking to Geoffrey, who passed away recently, passed away earlier this month at the age of 74. He was a giant in terms of aviation
journalism, and he will be seriously missed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEOFFREY THOMAS, AVIATION JOURNALIST: Look, the evidence shows that the majority of passengers want to fly nonstop. We know, for instance, when a
new route is opened on -- between two new destinations, it triples the traffic. A nonstop will triple the traffic on a route. So it's there that
people don't want to stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Geoffrey Thomas, who was with us on Project Sunrise, on the research flight, he was certainly would have been with us on the inaugural flight
next year. And to have lost him so early and so soon is indeed a loss. We wish his family condolences.
Geoffrey Thomas, who died last month.
We will take our "Profitable Moment" after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Tonight's "Profitable Moment" from Toulouse in -- with the Airbus headquarters.
All right. I can hear you saying, Quest, that's a plane. It's nothing more than carbon. Whatever it is, with a few engines and it's going to fly. And
so what? What do you make a big deal about it? What's the big fuss?
The big fuss is that it takes ambition and dreams to make aviation history. It's not just you have an idea and it happens. You've got to make it
happen. And that's what Qantas, Airbus and Rolls-Royce have done with this. Before this came along, you could not fly to Sydney to London with a full
payload nonstop. And that's the achievement. And when this plane takes off with a 200 and however many people it's on board, think of the hopes, the
dreams, the aspirations.
Who's going to meet a loved one? Who's going to say goodbye? Who's going to say goodbye for the last time? Who's going to get married? Whatever it is,
that plane will carry the hopes and dreams and fears of all humanity as indeed every aircraft that takes delivered from here or from the
competitors, Boeing or Embraer.
And that is QUEST MEANS BUSINESS for tonight. I'm Richard Quest at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse. Whatever you're up to in the hours ahead,
I hope it's profitable. I'll be back in London tomorrow.
END
