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Update Thursday, June 18: Earlier this month, the first Airbus A350-1000ULR destined for Qantas' Project Sunrise routes – that will directly connect Australia's east coast to London and New York – completed its inaugural test flight. The successful flight kicks off a two-month testing period, with Qantas having just announced the world-first non-stop services between Sydney and London will take off in October 2027. This will mark the very first time the Kangaroo Route has ever been flown without stops from Australia's east coast.
It’s almost time for take off! Almost eight years ago, Qantas announced its ambitious plan to launch direct flights from Sydney to London. Clocking in at up to 22 hours, this mammoth route will officially claim the title of the longest non-stop passenger flight in the world. The initial 2025 launch was pushed back due to technical issues and pandemic-related delays, but after a few more supply chain hiccups, the inaugural take-off has now been confirmed for October 2027.
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Currently, the world’s longest flight is Singapore Airlines’ direct service from Singapore to New York, which covers around 15,300 kilometres in roughly 18.5 hours. Qantas’ 17.5-hour journey from Perth to London is the world’s third longest, while the 17-hour Perth to Paris route and the 16-hour Melbourne to Dallas flight follow close behind.
Once the Sydney to London Heathrow flight launches, it will surpass them all, with an air time of up to 22 hours across 17,015 kilometres. The direct services will cut up to four hours off total travel time, compared with one-stop services today. Qantas has named it Project Sunrise – a nod to the fact that passengers will witness two sunrises while onboard a single flight – surreal stuff!
As part of Project Sunrise, Qantas is also set to debut a direct 18-hour flight from Sydney to New York. However, it's unconfirmed when this second long-haul route will launch.
Spending up to 22 hours in the sky sounds daunting, but the airline is pulling out all the stops to make the mega journey as comfortable as possible. Qantas will unveil 12 brand-new Airbus A350-1000ULRs (Ultra Long Range) for the London and New York services, reducing the usual capacity of 300 travellers to 238 to create extra legroom and make space for the world's first in-flight 'wellness zones’ between economy and premium sections. Those areas will include on-screen exercise programs, stretch handles and snack/hydration stations to keep you moving on the long haul. Yep, bring your activewear onboard!
Those living the (quite literal) high life in first class can look forward to both an armchair and a bed, plus sliding doors, a private wardrobe and storage, and a 32” HD screen. First-class flyers will also get a tablet to control the mood lighting, temperature and even the humidity. A 20-hour flight doesn’t sound so bad anymore, does it?
The first of 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs destined for Qantas' Project Sunrise routes completed its inaugural test flight in June, soaring for three hours and 43 minutes over France and the French Atlantic Coast. The successful test run kicks off a two-month testing period, with the plane featuring an additional 20,000-litre rear-centre fuel tank and enhanced systems to cater for the extra-long-haul routes.
Supply chain bottlenecks mean the custom aircraft will no longer be delivered at the end of 2026 as intended, pushing the inaugural Sydney to London flight from the first half of this year to October 2027. We can't wait for take off!