Qantas, one of Australia’s leading airlines, is making significant progress on its ambitious “Project Sunrise” initiative. The project aims to establish direct flights from the east coast of Australia to far-flung destinations in North America and Europe.
In an official announcement on Wednesday, Qantas revealed its plans to launch the first-ever nonstop service between Sydney and London in October 2027. The approximately 20-hour flight will be operated using Qantas’ custom-ordered Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft.
The airline intends to operate this route once daily, adding to its current services to London from Perth on the west coast of Australia and from Sydney with a stopover in Singapore. These routes will continue to operate even after the new nonstop connection becomes available.
While nonstop flights to London have been a primary goal of Project Sunrise since its inception in 2017, it was unclear whether New York or London would be the first destination for Qantas’ ultra-long-haul expansion. However, the airline confirmed that nonstop flights from Sydney to New York will be launched next, with an expected launch date to be announced next year.
Tickets for the Sydney-London service will go on sale in February 2027, and Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson expressed her excitement for this new milestone, stating, “We made a commitment in 2017 that Qantas would conquer the final frontier of long-haul aviation and connect Australia’s east coast directly to London, something that has never been possible before. From October 2027, that promise becomes a reality.
Hudson also highlighted the time-saving benefits for customers, with the nonstop flight expected to save up to four hours of travel time. Additionally, Qantas has invested in the A350-1000ULR, which is specially designed to minimize the effects of jetlag on long journeys.
Currently, Qantas has two A350-1000ULRs undergoing testing in France, with a total of 12 on order from Airbus. The aircraft has been equipped with an extra fuel tank, allowing for up to 22 continuous hours of flight.
To prepare for the launch of this new route, Qantas is training its A330 pilots for the A350-1000ULR using a simulator in Sydney. Some pilots will also gain experience by flying with British Airways and Cathay Pacific in the coming months.
This new nonstop service to London marks a significant milestone for Qantas, as it first operated the “Kangaroo Route” between Australia and the U. K. in 1947, which required seven stops at the time. With the launch of the Sydney-London route, Qantas is once again pushing boundaries and making history in the aviation industry.