Qantas: London will get first ‘Project Sunrise’ flights, followed by New York – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Qantas has confirmed that its groundbreaking nonstop flights from Sydney will reach London Heathrow before New York. The carrier plans to launch the Sydney-London route in October 2027, making it the longest scheduled commercial passenger flight in the world. Service to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport will follow shortly afterward. Tickets for the initial London flights are expected to go on sale in February.
Confirmed Timeline and City Order
The sequence places London ahead of New York despite earlier speculation that both cities might launch around the same time. Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson outlined the plan during an event at Airbus facilities in Toulouse. The airline will operate the ultra-long routes with a new variant of the Airbus A350 designed specifically for these distances.
Passengers on the Sydney-London service can expect flight times exceeding 19 hours. The New York route, while still among the world’s longest, will be marginally shorter. Both services form the core of Qantas’ long-planned expansion of nonstop links from Australia’s east coast.
Aircraft Development and Testing
Airbus delivered the first A350-1000ULR earlier this month after years of development work tailored to Qantas requirements. The aircraft will undergo several months of testing and certification before entering commercial service. Qantas has ordered 12 of the ultra-long-range jets to support the new routes and potential future additions.
No existing passenger aircraft could reliably operate these city pairs with a full payload until the ULR variant was created. Earlier research flights by Qantas in 2019 demonstrated the routes were possible only with reduced loads on Boeing 787s.
Project Sunrise Origins
Qantas launched Project Sunrise in 2017 to overcome what it has long called the tyranny of distance separating Australia from major northern hemisphere cities. The initiative challenged manufacturers to produce an aircraft capable of flying nonstop from Sydney or Melbourne to both London and New York with standard passenger loads. Hudson described the coming services as finally conquering that geographic barrier.
The project has progressed in measured steps, moving from concept through aircraft selection and now into the delivery and testing phase. Additional ultra-long-haul destinations from Australia’s east coast remain under consideration but have not yet been announced.
What It Means for Passengers
Travelers between Australia and Europe or the U.S. East Coast will gain significant time savings once the routes begin. Eliminating connections in Asia or the Middle East reduces overall journey time and potential disruptions. The services are expected to appeal strongly to both leisure and business travelers seeking more direct options.
Qantas has not detailed exact schedules or pricing beyond the planned ticket sales window. Industry observers anticipate strong initial demand given the historic nature of the flights and limited competition on true nonstop routings of this length.
