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Update Thursday, June 34: 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.
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to fly to Europe’s sparkling shores, you’ll also have been brave enough to have endured the heinously long, multi-stage journey time to get there. But thanks to Qantas, the Sydney to London passage is set to get a whole lot smoother over the next few years. Almost eight years ago, Qantas announced its ambitious plan to launch direct flights from Sydney to London and New York. Clocking in at just over 20 hours, the Sydney to London route will 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 whether London or New York gets the honour first.
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 around 20 hours across 17,015 kilometres. 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 20 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 A350-1000s for the London and New York services, reducing the usual capacity of 300 travellers to 238 to create extra legroom and make space for ‘wellness zones’ between economy and premium sections. Those areas will include on-screen exercise programs, stretch handles and 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, 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? You can read more on those luxe cabins here.
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