Qantas has finally revealed the launch date for its first Project Sunrise route: nonstop Sydney to London, now targeted for October 2027. After years of delays and aircraft drama, the world’s longest flight is getting closer to reality.
Qantas Project Sunrise Finally Has A Launch Date: Sydney To London Nonstop In October 2027
Qantas has announced that its long-awaited Project Sunrise service will launch with nonstop flights between Sydney (SYD) and London Heathrow (LHR), with service now targeted for October 2027.
Tickets are expected to go on sale in February 2027, while the first specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR is due for delivery in April 2027. Qantas will reportedly need three aircraft before launching the route: two to operate it and one spare.
This is the route Qantas has dreamed about for years. Sydney to London without a stop. No Singapore. No Perth. No Dubai. Just one very, very long flight from Australia’s east coast to the United Kingdom. Qantas says the flight will take roughly 19 to 21 hours depending upon winds and routing, easily making it the world’s longest regularly scheduled commercial flight.
Project Sunrise Has Taken A Long Time To Rise
Project Sunrise dates back to 2017, when Qantas challenged Airbus and Boeing to build an aircraft capable of flying nonstop from Sydney and Melbourne to cities like London and New York with a viable commercial payload. At one point, Qantas hoped to launch these flights in 2022. Then it became 2023. Then 2025. Then 2026. Now the target is October 2027.
The delays are understandable, but they have also become part of the story. COVID-19, supply chain issues, aircraft certification, and even the intricate cabin development all slowed the project. Still, Qantas has not walked away from the idea, and that shows how strongly the airline believes in the market.
The first aircraft, named Vega, is due to arrive in April 2027. Qantas has 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft on order for Project Sunrise, featuring extra fuel capacity and a very low-density cabin for such a large aircraft.
A Spacious A350, But Still A Very Long Flight
The Qantas A350-1000ULR will carry just 238 passengers in four cabins:
- 6 first class suites
- 52 business class seats
- 40 premium economy seats
- 140 economy class seats
Economy class will offer 33 inches of pitch, which is generous by modern longhaul standards but seems a necessity for a flight that long. The aircraft will also include a dedicated wellness zone, fast and free Wi-Fi, and cabins designed around lighting, meals, hydration, and movement to reduce jet lag.
That all sounds great, but let’s be honest: 20 hours is still 20 hours.
In first class, this will be a bucket-list flight. In business class, it will be very manageable. In premium economy, it will be tolerable for many. In economy class, even with 33 inches of pitch, this will be a serious test of endurance (though one that I hope to try myself!).
I’ve said before that I would take this flight even in economy if I had to, and I still mean that. I love ultra-longhaul flights and I love the idea of eliminating a stop. But I am also not going to pretend that 20 hours in an economy class seat is going to be easy…I’ve flown between Singapore and Los Angeles several times over the years (over 17 hours westbound) and admittedly, I cannot wait to get off. Will this be any different?
London First, New York Next
London being first is logical. The Kangaroo Route is central to Qantas history, and the symbolism of finally eliminating the last stop between Sydney and London is powerful. The original Qantas Kangaroo Route in 1947 took four days and included seven stops (Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito and Rome). Project Sunrise reduces that journey to one flight.
New York is expected to follow as the second Project Sunrise route. Qantas also wants a fare premium for these flights, which is hardly surprising. The airline is not doing this as a science experiment, but selling time. If it can save passengers several hours and eliminate the stress of a connection, it will charge for that.
The question is how much of a premium passengers will tolerate…I’ve spoken to many and I know many of you would choose to make a stop just to break up the long journey.
I’m Very Excited About This!
I am excited. I’ve been following Project Sunrise for years, from the early Airbus versus Boeing aircraft competition to the test flights to the cabin announcements to the jet lag studies involving chili, chocolate, soup, and carefully timed meals.
This is the kind of aviation ambition I love and I’ve covered this project extensively over the years:
- Qantas Issues Challenge For Nonstop Sydney – London Flight
- Qantas Will Operate New York To Sydney Nonstop On Friday
- Qantas Rejects “Project Sunrise” Bids From Both Airbus And Boeing
- What’s The Longest Possible Commercial Flight?
- Qantas CEO Optimistic Over Project Sunrise
- Air New Zealand & Qantas Renew Push For Ultra Long-Haul Service
- Qantas A350 “Project Sunrise” Will Have Excellent Legroom Even In Economy Class
- Qantas Plans To Fight Jet Lag With Chili And Chocolate
- Qantas Quietly Ends First Class Flights For Retired Executives On New A350s
At the same time, I remain curious whether the economics will work. I’d wager that much smarter folks than me have carefully plotted out premium demand, corporate travel, and those leisure travelers willing to pay a premium for the nonstop. Hopefully by the time it launches the airspace over Iran and Russian will be open, but that’s another matter for another day…
CONCLUSION
Qantas Project Sunrise finally has a launch route and a new target date. Nonstop Sydney to London service is now expected to begin in October 2027, with tickets going on sale in February 2027.
After years of delays, this is a major step forward. The aircraft are coming, the cabins are designed, and the first route has been officially confirmed.
I still think 20 hours in economy sounds difficult, even with 33 inches of pitch, but I’m game to try it…in fact, I can’t wait. Project Sunrise is exactly the sort of bold aviation project that makes this industry so fascinating.
Are you ready to get on a 20-hour nonstop flight?
Sorry, but even in first and business class this will be an endurance test.
Or probably you just have more stamina than me for this sort of thing Matthew.
As is SQ21,22,23,24 on NYC-SIN, even in J. First time I took it, by hour 18, of 19.5 (it bad headwind), I started to lose it a little over Thailand… if these flights are scheduled a little longer and have economy… yikes.
The youtubers will be out in force for this one.
In some ways I feel like the NY flight is more “needed”. So many good connection options from London via Middle East or SE Asia for premium passengers. From NY the first leg is domestic to west coast or DFW… can get across the country in style, but not exactly in London-Dubai/Singapore style.
Yeah, I wish NYC was the start, but the stop in AKL ain’t bad… taking it later this year!
Yeah that’s an option too especially now that they finally renovated their business class – overall though just less premium options from NY than LHR. And while I hope you are flying in the pointy end, could give that new skynest a try! (Youtubers will be all over that one too I am sure). Enjoy the trip.
Trying 787 there, a380 back (LAX); pointy!
When people say they want this flight, do they really mean they want it for 21 hours? Sure, you’ll get to London a little faster, but realistically it’ll still take you 24 hours to get from your home in Sydney to your destination in London. A connection on either end of any sort renders it meaningless.
I struggle sometimes between thinking the world is big, and thinking the world is small. This makes the think the world is, in fact, big.
24 is better than 30+
And the layovers are really unpleasant!
For aviation enthusiasts → The sleek jetliner featured in the article is QF’s first A350-1000ULR to be painted in the flag carrier livery. It has just rolled out of the paint shop in Toulouse. VH-OJA is named ‘Vega’ after the historic Catalina’s that flew Double Sunrise flights in the 1940s. Get ready for the next autumn’s epic 20-hour nonstop QF flight?
And yes, the engines will be added later!
*Revised Comment*
For aviation enthusiasts → The sleek jetliner featured in the article is QF’s first A350-1000ULR to be painted in the flag carrier livery. It has just rolled out of the paint shop in Toulouse. VH-OJA is named ‘Vega’ after the historic Catalina’s that flew Double Sunrise flights in the 1940s. Get ready for the next autumn’s epic 20-hour nonstop QF flight between SYD and LHR!
This is a dream about to come true… Kudos to Airbus and QF!
Let’s note that the first A350-1000ULR ordered by QF has completed its first flight on June 2, 2026 in Toulouse, France. The aircraft, powered with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and fitted with special flight test instrumentation, flew for three hours 43 minutes reaching an altitude of slightly above 41,000 feet. The aircraft was flown by a dedicated Airbus Flight Test crew.