Quick summary
Qantas has confirmed Sydney–London as the first route for Project Sunrise, with non-stop services launching in October 2027 aboard specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft configured for 238 passengers. The flights will be the first time Australia’s east coast has ever been connected to London without a stop, cutting up to four hours off current one-stop journey times. Ticket sales open in February 2027.
The first A350-1000ULR delivery is expected in April 2027, leaving a tight window before the October launch. Sydney–New York has been confirmed as the next Project Sunrise route, with timing to follow.
At Airbus‘ manufacturing facility in Toulouse on June 17, 2026, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson stood in front of the first A350-1000ULR wearing Qantas livery and made it official: Sydney to London, non-stop, from October 2027. No Singapore stop. No Dubai layover. Just one very long flight — up to 22 hours — and you’re there.
The announcement ends a journey that began in 1947, when the original Kangaroo Route took four days and seven stops to reach London. Every generation of aircraft since has removed one stop from the itinerary. This removes the last one.
For travelers planning 2027–2028 trips between Australia and the UK, the practical upshot is a new non-stop option that saves up to four hours versus the fastest current one-stop itineraries via Singapore, Dubai, or Doha. Ticket sales are scheduled to open in February 2027, giving travelers roughly eight months to compare the new A350 non-stop against existing Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways one-stop alternatives before the inaugural departure.
Project Sunrise will eventually expand beyond London. Sydney–New York is confirmed as the next destination, though launch timing has not yet been set.
What the A350-1000ULR actually makes possible
Airbus built the A350-1000ULR specifically for this mission. The aircraft carries an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank that extends its range beyond 16,000 kilometres — enough to cover the roughly 17,000 km Sydney–London great circle route with the required fuel reserves. Standard A350-1000s cannot do this. The modification required separate certification from aviation authorities including EASA and CASA, and bilateral air service agreements between Australia and the UK had to be in place before Qantas could legally sell non-stop tickets on the route.
Qantas has ordered 12 aircraft in this configuration. The first delivery is expected in April 2027 — a slip of several months from the originally anticipated late-2026 handover, attributed to supply chain issues at Airbus. As reported in ATC’s earlier coverage, the first aircraft was already in the Toulouse paint shop with test flights expected within weeks of the Toulouse reveal event. Pilot training is already underway in Sydney, and Qantas A330 pilots form the initial intake — 40 are currently in conversion training, with more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew to be trained across the full 12-aircraft fleet.
The new service will operate alongside — not replace — Qantas‘ existing QF1/QF2 Sydney–Singapore–London routing and its Perth–London 787-9 service.
| Carrier | Routing | Approx. journey time | Aircraft | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas | SYD–SIN–LHR (QF1/QF2) | ~22–24 hrs (with stop) | A380 | Operating now |
| Qantas | SYD–PER–LHR | ~24–26 hrs (with stop) | 787-9 | Operating now |
| Singapore Airlines | SYD–SIN–LHR | ~22–24 hrs (with stop) | A380 / 777-300ER | Operating now |
| Emirates | SYD–DXB–LHR | ~23–25 hrs (with stop) | A380 | Operating now |
| Qatar Airways | SYD–DOH–LHR | ~23–25 hrs (with stop) | 787-9 / A350 | Operating now |
| Qantas Project Sunrise | SYD–LHR non-stop | ~19–20 hrs (est.) | A350-1000ULR | From Oct 2027 |
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Why the Perth precedent matters for what comes next
The closest comparison is Qantas‘ launch of non-stop Perth–London in March 2018 using Boeing 787-9s — then one of the world’s longest commercial flights. That service demonstrated sustainable demand for premium-heavy ultra-long sectors on the Kangaroo Route and, critically, generated the customer satisfaction data that justified ordering 12 A350-1000ULRs for Project Sunrise. More than 1.7 million passengers have since flown Qantas’ non-stop long-haul services from Perth, Melbourne, and Auckland combined.
The mechanics underpinning the Sydney–London non-stop are more complex than Perth–London, though. The A350-1000ULR modification requires its own airworthiness certification from EASA and CASA, and extended operations rules govern how far the aircraft can fly from diversion airports — a real constraint on a 22-hour sector over the Indian Ocean and Central Asia. For travelers, this machinery is invisible. But it’s why the April 2027 delivery date matters: flight testing and regulatory sign-off must happen between delivery and the October launch, leaving almost no buffer if Airbus slips further.
How to position yourself before February 2027 sales open
The April 2027 delivery window leaves almost no margin before the October launch — any further Airbus delay flows directly into the service start date, and February booking opening could slip with it.
- Set a February 2027 alert now: Bookmark Qantas’ A350 Project Sunrise fleet page and set a calendar reminder for early February 2027. Inaugural-season seats on premium cabins will go fast — new route launches historically see business class fill within days of sale opening. ATC’s guide on how to secure new route launch fares covers the playbook in detail.
- Compare non-stop against one-stop on your specific dates: The four-hour time saving is real, but one-stop fares via Singapore or Dubai will likely undercut the A350 non-stop on price, at least initially. Use Google Flights multi-city search to run both options side by side when sales open.
- Decide now whether a midway stop matters to you: A 22-hour non-stop is a different physical experience from two 12-hour legs with a lounge break in Singapore. If you value the rest stop, Qantas‘ QF1/QF2 via Singapore and Singapore Airlines‘ own SYD–SIN–LHR product will still be there.
- Track fare movements on the corridor: Air Traveler Club’s monitoring occasionally flags temporary sharp drops on Australasia–Europe fares lasting a few days — worth watching as competitors respond to the Project Sunrise announcement with their own pricing moves.
- Sydney–New York is next: If your destination is the US East Coast rather than London, hold off — Qantas has confirmed SYD–JFK as the second Project Sunrise route, with timing to be announced in 2027.
Watch: The April 2027 A350-1000ULR delivery from Airbus is the single most important milestone to track. If it slips beyond May 2027, expect the October launch date — and the February booking opening — to move accordingly.
Questions? Answers.
How long will the Qantas Sydney–London non-stop flight actually take?
Qantas has not published an exact scheduled block time, but the A350-1000ULR is capable of flights up to approximately 22 hours. Current one-stop itineraries via Singapore typically run 22–24 hours including the transit, so the non-stop is expected to clock in around 19–20 hours of actual flying time — saving up to four hours door-to-door.
Will the non-stop be more expensive than current one-stop options?
Almost certainly at launch, yes. New ultra-long-haul non-stop routes typically carry a premium over one-stop alternatives, particularly in premium cabins. Qantas has not released pricing yet. When sales open in February 2027, compare the A350 non-stop fare directly against QF1/QF2 via Singapore and Gulf carrier one-stops — the gap will narrow over time as the route matures.
What happens if the Airbus delivery is delayed again?
The first A350-1000ULR delivery is currently expected in April 2027. Flight testing and regulatory certification must happen between delivery and the October 2027 launch, leaving minimal buffer. A further slip at Airbus would likely push the February 2027 booking opening and the October service start in tandem. ATC will report any delivery update as it happens.
Does the non-stop replace Qantas’ existing Sydney–Singapore–London service?
No. Qantas has confirmed the Project Sunrise non-stop will operate alongside the existing QF1/QF2 Sydney–Singapore–London routing and the Perth–London 787-9 service. Travelers who prefer a midway stop — or who connect through Singapore — will still have that option.
When will Sydney–New York non-stop flights be available?
Qantas has confirmed Sydney–New York as the second Project Sunrise route but has not announced a launch date. Timing is expected to be revealed in 2027, after the Sydney–London service is established.
