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Update Wednesday, June 3: The first Airbus A350-1000ULR destined for Qantas' Project Sunrise routes – that will directly connect Australia's east coast to London and New York – just completed its inaugural test flight. The new Airbus took off from Toulouse and flew for three hours and 43 minutes over France and the French Atlantic Coast – only a fraction of the 18- to 22-hour non-stop journeys ahead. The successful flight kicks off a two-month testing period, with Qantas set to announce the first Project Sunrise route and timing in late June.
It’s almost time for take off! Almost eight years ago, Qantas announced its ambitious plan to launch direct flights from Sydney to London and New York. Clocking in at up to 22 hours, the Sydney to London 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 with new supply chain hiccups, take-off of the first route is now expected towards the tail end of 2027. Qantas still hasn't confirmed which city gets the honour first.
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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 not confirmed which ultra-long route will take off first.
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 Project Sunrise planes rolled out of the hangar in France in April 2026, with an extensive two-month test flight programme kicking off in winter. The A350-1000 aircraft will fly for up to 22 hours non-stop, made possible by an additional 20,000 litre rear centre fuel tank and enhanced systems. However, supply chain bottlenecks mean the custom aircraft will no longer be delivered at the end of 2026 as intended, pushing the inaugural passenger flights from the first half of 2027 back to late next year. Qantas hasn't confirmed whether the London or New York route will launch first, so stay tuned for further updates.