Quick summary
Qantas has confirmed October 2027 as the launch date for nonstop Sydney–London Heathrow flights under Project Sunrise, using a dedicated fleet of 12 Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft configured with just 238 seats across four cabins. The route will cover approximately 17,015 kilometres in up to 22 hours, immediately becoming the world’s longest scheduled commercial flight. Tickets go on sale in February 2027. Nonstop Sydney–New York JFK follows later in 2027, with a confirmed date expected in early 2027.
The first A350-1000ULR is due for delivery in April 2027, leaving a tight window before commercial operations begin. Project Sunrise will run alongside Qantas’ existing one-stop options, not replace them.
After nearly a decade of announcements, test flights and aircraft development, Qantas has put a firm date on the most anticipated route in Australian aviation history. Nonstop Sydney–London flights begin in October 2027 — and for the first time, Australia’s east coast will be connected to the UK without a single stop.
CEO Vanessa Hudson made the announcement at Airbus‘ Toulouse facility, where the first A350-1000ULR was unveiled in full Qantas livery after completing its maiden flight earlier this month. The aircraft still needs to pass certification testing before its expected delivery in April 2027, giving the airline roughly six months to prepare for revenue service.
The flight time of up to 22 hours will leapfrog Singapore Airlines‘ Singapore–Newark service — currently the world’s longest at just under 19 hours — by a significant margin. At 17,015 kilometres, the Sydney–London sector is a distance no commercial aircraft could operate nonstop until Airbus engineered this specific variant, adding a 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank to extend range by 1,000 nautical miles beyond the standard A350-1000.
Nonstop Sydney–New York JFK follows later in 2027. Hudson confirmed the route is on track but stopped short of a specific date, saying a confirmed launch will be announced in early 2027.
What the schedule and aircraft actually mean for travelers
Three aircraft are required to sustain a daily frequency on each route. With 12 A350-1000ULRs on order and the first delivery not until April 2027, Qantas will be working to a tight delivery cadence — the airline needs at least three airframes certified and crewed before the October 2027 launch, with further deliveries supporting the New York service and any future expansion to Melbourne.
The cabin configuration is deliberately premium-heavy: 6 first class suites, 52 business class seats, 40 premium economy seats and 140 economy seats — 238 total, well below the 330-plus seats a standard A350-1000 typically carries. That density reduction is partly structural (the rear fuel tank displaces space) and partly a deliberate product decision for flights lasting up to 22 hours. A dedicated wellness zone gives all passengers room to stand and move, and the inflight entertainment and connectivity are designed for work and streaming across a full day in the air. Meal service is built around managing jet lag on sectors this long — a detail Qantas has been developing since its 2019 research flights.
| Cabin | Seats | Route | Distance | Max flight time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First class suites | 6 | SYD–LHR | 17,015 km | ~22 hours |
| Business class | 52 | SYD–JFK | TBC | ~21 hours (est.) |
| Premium economy | 40 | SYD–PER–LHR (existing) | ~14,498 km | ~17 hours |
| Economy | 140 | — | — | — |
Project Sunrise services will operate alongside Qantas‘ existing Perth–London nonstop and the Sydney–Singapore–London routing, so travelers will have genuine choice between nonstop and one-stop itineraries. Official Project Sunrise details, including the A350-1000ULR fleet page on qantas.com, confirm the April 2027 first delivery and the aircraft’s role in the ultra-long-haul network.
For context on how the A350-1000ULR compares to other aircraft built for extreme distances, the guide to the best aircraft for ultra-long-haul comfort covers what separates genuinely passenger-friendly long-range jets from those that merely survive the distance.
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Why this flight took a decade — and what makes it possible now
The mechanics behind Project Sunrise are worth understanding, because they explain both why the route is only happening now and what travelers will actually experience in the air. Ultra-long-haul flights of this length require EDTO (Extended Diversion Time Operations) approval — a regulatory framework governing how far a twin-engine aircraft can operate from a diversion airport at any point in the flight. Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority and foreign counterparts set those limits based on aircraft reliability data, onboard rest facilities and crew fatigue science.
For a 22-hour flight, that means multiple pilot teams rotating through bunk rest areas, cabin crew working in shifts, and routing that keeps the aircraft within approved diversion ranges even over the Southern Ocean. Travelers will notice structured crew changeovers and may see slightly indirect great-circle paths — but the tradeoff is higher safety margins and more predictable operations than early long-haul aviation ever managed.
The precedent here is instructive. When Qantas launched nonstop Perth–London on 25 March 2018 — the first direct air link between Australia and the UK — the 17-hour Boeing 787-9 service was met with similar skepticism about passenger tolerance for extreme duration. It became a flagship premium route almost immediately, and it demonstrated that the operational groundwork for crew management and customer experience on very long sectors was achievable. Sydney–London is three to five hours longer still, but the lessons from Perth are baked into Project Sunrise’s design.
How to position yourself for Project Sunrise fares
Ticket sales open in February 2027 — roughly eight months away — but the decisions you make now about timing, routing and cabin preference will determine whether you get a seat at launch or spend months on a waitlist for a 6-seat first class cabin.
- Set a February 2027 calendar alert for qantas.com. First-wave fares on new ultra-long-haul routes are typically the most competitive before demand is fully understood. With only 6 first class suites and 52 business seats per flight, premium inventory will move fast. Knowing how to secure launch fares before the crowd gives you a structural advantage — the ATC guide to new route launch promotions covers the mechanics.
- Price the nonstop against one-stop alternatives now. Current SYD–LHR one-stop fares via Singapore, Dubai or Doha set your baseline. The nonstop will save up to four hours but will likely carry a fare premium. Decide in advance how much that time is worth to you — the answer differs sharply between a business traveler on a tight schedule and a leisure traveler with flexibility.
- For SYD–JFK, wait for the confirmed date. Qantas has committed to announcing the New York launch date in early 2027. Until then, compare existing routings via LAX or SFO on Qantas, American Airlines and United — and note that the nonstop will initially operate at one daily frequency, limiting schedule flexibility.
- Monitor A350-1000ULR delivery progress. The first aircraft is due in April 2027. If that slips, expect a knock-on delay to October commercial operations and tighter premium-cabin availability as launch inventory compresses. Qantas’ fleet announcements page is the fastest signal.
- Consider the existing Perth–London nonstop as a bridge option. If your travel falls before October 2027, Qantas‘ Boeing 787-9 Perth service already offers a nonstop Australia–UK option at 17 hours — shorter than Sunrise, and with fares that may soften slightly as the new service approaches.
Watch: Qantas’ February 2027 ticket sale launch is the critical signal — if it opens on schedule, it confirms Airbus deliveries and regulatory approvals are on track. A delay to the sale date is the earliest indicator of a potential slip to first flights.
Questions? Answers.
How long will the Qantas Sydney–London nonstop actually take?
Qantas has confirmed a maximum flight time of around 22 hours for the Sydney–London Heathrow sector, covering approximately 17,015 kilometres. Actual block times will vary by wind and routing — eastbound and westbound flights typically differ by 60–90 minutes on ultra-long-haul sectors. This makes it the world’s longest scheduled commercial flight, surpassing Singapore Airlines’ Singapore–Newark service at just under 19 hours.
When do tickets go on sale and how do I book?
Qantas has confirmed ticket sales open in February 2027 for the October 2027 Sydney–London launch. Bookings will be available directly through qantas.com and via travel agents. Given only 238 seats per flight — including just 6 first class suites — premium cabin inventory is expected to sell quickly in the first sale window.
Will Project Sunrise replace Qantas’ existing Sydney–London one-stop service?
No. Qantas has confirmed Project Sunrise nonstop flights will operate alongside the existing Sydney–Singapore–London routing and the Perth–London nonstop. Travelers will have a choice between the direct 22-hour flight and one-stop options, which will likely be priced lower and offer more schedule flexibility.
What aircraft will Qantas use for Project Sunrise?
Qantas will operate a dedicated fleet of 12 Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft. Airbus developed this variant specifically for Qantas by adding a 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank, extending range by 1,000 nautical miles beyond the standard A350-1000. Each aircraft seats 238 passengers across four cabins: 6 first class suites, 52 business class seats, 40 premium economy seats and 140 economy seats.
What about Sydney–New York nonstop — when does that launch?
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed Sydney–New York JFK will launch later in 2027, a few months after the London service begins in October. A specific date will be announced in early 2027. The route will use the same A350-1000ULR aircraft, with Qantas needing three airframes per route to sustain daily frequency.
