Qantas has promised that passengers will be able to use Classic Reward seats on its long-haul Project Sunrise flights, including in first class, as the airline prepares for one of the most ambitious route launches in its history.

The assurance came as the carrier continued work on the ultra long-haul project, which is expected to connect Australia with destinations such as London and New York on nonstop flights lasting well over 20 hours.

Qantas has not yet confirmed a launch date, but the airline says the reward-seat option will be part of the new service when it begins.

The commitment is significant for frequent flyers because Classic Reward seats are usually among the most sought-after seats in the Qantas loyalty programme. Their availability on Project Sunrise flights would give members a rare chance to redeem points on some of the airline’s longest and most premium services.

The project has been closely watched by aviation industry observers and loyal customers alike. Qantas has spent years planning the routes, aircraft and cabin layout needed to make the flights viable, with comfort and range at the centre of the design.

Project Sunrise is intended to remove the need for stopovers on some of the world’s longest city pairs. For travellers, that could mean a faster journey, fewer disruptions and a very different experience from today’s multi-leg itineraries.

Qantas has said before that premium cabins will be a major feature of the new aircraft. The latest promise suggests the airline also wants to protect loyalty benefits on the routes, rather than limiting them to cash fares alone.