Qantas Project Sunrise: Australia’s 22-Hour Flights to London and New York Set to Transform Long-Haul Travel

Written By: Ankita Neogi Khan

Ankita Neogi Khan

With over 15 years of experience in digital media, I bring a strong foundation in language, journalism, and storytelling to travel reporting. A graduate in English (Honours) from Presidency College with a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta, I began my career as a content curator before transitioning into travel journalism. I specialise in aviation, tourism trends, destination news, and industry insights, combining meticulous research, accuracy, and compelling storytelling to deliver credible, engaging, and insightful content for a global audience.

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September 2, 2026 1:01 PM

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Qantas is readying its fleet of Airbus A350-1000ULRs for non-stop services between Sydney and London and Sydney and New York, as Australia prepares for a new era of ultra-long-haul travel. The first Sydney-London flight is due to depart in October 2027, with Sydney-New York as the second route. The aircraft will be able to fly for 22 hours non-stop, with 238 passengers in four cabins, setting a new standard for long-distance commercial aviation.

The specially configured aircraft will also feature a dedicated Wellbeing Zone, enhanced inflight entertainment, fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Qantas has designed the cabin to meet the physical demands of ultra-long-haul travel, and the onboard experience has been shaped by research in sleep, movement, hydration and lighting. For travellers the importance goes beyond the headline flight time, as the program could break down a long-standing accessibility barrier between Australia, Europe and North America.

Sydney’s Longest Journey Gets Shorter

The scale of the change becomes clearer when the history of the Sydney-London connection is considered. Qantas has linked the two cities for decades, but passengers have traditionally accepted at least one stop as part of the journey. Project Sunrise aims to remove that interruption with a direct service scheduled to begin in October 2027.

Qantas expects the new Sydney-London service to cut up to four hours from the total journey compared with current one-stop alternatives. That saving could prove particularly valuable to corporate travellers, premium leisure passengers and visitors working with tightly planned itineraries. The airline expects tickets for the first service to become available before the launch, subject to the necessary approvals and certification.

The second major route will connect Sydney directly with New York. The service will eliminate the intermediate stop that has traditionally formed part of many Sydney-New York itineraries. Together, the two routes will demonstrate whether ultra-long-haul flying can become a commercially sustainable alternative to conventional hub-based journeys.

The Aircraft Is Built Around Endurance

The aircraft at the centre of Project Sunrise is not simply another A350 assigned to an unusually long route. Qantas has worked with Airbus to configure the A350-1000ULR around the demands of journeys approaching an entire day in the air. Its additional fuel capacity and specialised configuration provide the endurance needed for Australia’s ambitious east-coast connections.

Fuel capacity remains the foundation of the aircraft’s extraordinary range. The aircraft incorporates additional fuel capability across its tanks, supporting the long sectors required to connect Sydney with London and New York without a technical stop. Yet range alone does not explain the programme’s significance because Qantas has also redesigned the passenger experience around endurance.

The airline will carry only 238 passengers, creating a lower-density configuration than many conventional A350-1000 layouts. More than 40 per cent of the seats will sit in premium cabins, while the aircraft will provide substantially more space for passengers than a high-density configuration would allow.

That decision reflects a clear commercial calculation. An airline must make a flight lasting close to 20 hours attractive enough for passengers to choose it over a one-stop itinerary. Consequently, comfort becomes part of the aircraft’s operating strategy rather than simply an added luxury.

The cabin will also feature six First Suites designed around privacy and flexibility. Each suite will provide an 80-inch flat bed, a reclining armchair and space for working, dining or relaxing. Business Class will receive lie-flat suites with privacy doors, while Economy Plus will provide greater legroom for passengers prepared to pay more for additional space.

Project Sunrise Targets the Jet-Lag Problem

Distance represents only one challenge on a 19- to 22-hour journey. The other begins inside the passenger’s body, as prolonged sitting, disrupted sleep patterns and multiple time zones can affect comfort and wellbeing. Qantas has therefore placed unusual emphasis on the physiological demands of ultra-long-haul travel.

The airline has worked with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre on research covering sleep, movement, lighting and meal timing. That research has influenced elements of the aircraft interior and the proposed inflight experience. The objective is straightforward: help passengers arrive in better condition after an exceptionally long flight.

The Wellbeing Zone will become one of the aircraft’s most distinctive features. Located between Premium Economy and Economy, the space will include stretching handles, a hydration station and guided movement programmes. Passengers will be able to leave their seats, move around and perform simple exercises during the journey.

Lighting will play an equally important role. The aircraft will feature multiple lighting scenes designed to replicate different stages of the day and support the body’s circadian rhythm. Qantas believes the combination of lighting, meal timing, movement and sleep planning can help passengers adjust more effectively to the destination time zone.

That approach has wider implications for tourism. A traveller who reaches London or New York after almost a full day in the air may have limited energy for the first day of a holiday or business programme. Reducing some of the physical strain could therefore increase the amount of useful time passengers can enjoy after landing.

Australia’s Tourism Market Adds Weight

The commercial rationale for stronger nonstop connectivity becomes clearer when Australia’s international visitor market is examined. Australia recorded 9.10 million short-term visitor arrivals in 2025-26, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, demonstrating continued recovery and demand across international source markets. The United States and United Kingdom remain especially important markets for Australian tourism.

The United States recorded approximately 755,500 short-term visitor arrivals, while the United Kingdom generated about 751,420 during the same financial year. These markets also deliver substantial visitor expenditure, making improved air connectivity strategically important for Australian tourism businesses.

The spending profile of US visitors makes the market particularly attractive. Tourism Australia has highlighted the high daily expenditure of American holidaymakers, reinforcing the value of direct connectivity for premium leisure and business segments. UK visitors also represent a significant source of tourism revenue for Australia’s destinations.

Consequently, Project Sunrise is not merely an aviation experiment. It sits within a broader strategy of making Australia easier to reach from high-value international markets. If direct access stimulates additional demand, the benefits could extend beyond Sydney to domestic destinations connected through the city’s extensive Australian network.

Sydney Airport Is Ready for More Long-Haul Demand

The new routes will also operate from an airport already handling substantial international traffic. Sydney Airport recorded 17.17 million international passengers in 2025, making it the airport’s busiest year for international traffic. Total passenger numbers also exceeded 42 million during the year.

That performance provides an important backdrop for Project Sunrise. More international passengers create opportunities for airlines, hotels, tour operators and destination businesses, but they also increase pressure on terminals, transport links and border-processing infrastructure.

For travellers, the airport experience will remain an important part of the overall journey. A nonstop flight can save several hours in the air, but the benefit becomes less meaningful if passengers encounter lengthy transfers or delays before departure. Efficient airport operations will therefore become increasingly important as Sydney expands its long-haul connectivity.

What Changes for International Travellers?

The most obvious advantage is simplicity. Passengers travelling directly between Sydney and London or New York will no longer need to change aircraft at an intermediate hub. That removes an additional security process, boarding procedure and potential baggage transfer from the journey.

The benefit could prove particularly valuable for families, older travellers and passengers with complex itineraries. It also reduces exposure to missed connections caused by delays on the first sector. For business travellers, the potential productivity gain could be even more significant because every saved hour can become usable time at the destination.

Leisure travellers face a different calculation. A four-hour saving can make a meaningful difference during a short holiday, particularly when travellers are paying for accommodation and activities by the day. Arriving earlier or returning later could effectively create additional usable holiday time.

However, passengers should not assume that nonstop automatically means easier. A journey lasting close to 20 hours still requires careful preparation, particularly around hydration, movement, sleep and adjustment to the destination time zone. Project Sunrise can reduce the inconvenience of a connection, but it cannot eliminate the physical realities of spending almost an entire day in an aircraft.

How It Compares With Existing Routes

Australia already operates some of the world’s longest commercial services. Qantas, for example, has maintained a nonstop Perth-London connection, while other Australian routes rely on major Asian, Middle Eastern or North American hubs.

The Sydney-London proposal is different because Sydney lies considerably farther east than Perth. The geographical challenge is therefore greater, requiring an aircraft capable of carrying sufficient fuel while maintaining commercially viable passenger capacity.

The Sydney-New York route presents another formidable test. Qantas has historically relied on connecting options for this city pair, including itineraries that use Auckland as an intermediate point. Project Sunrise aims to remove that additional stop and create a genuinely direct connection between the two cities.

The significance goes beyond flight duration. Project Sunrise represents a shift towards direct city-pair connectivity, reducing dependence on traditional global aviation hubs.

That could eventually influence how airlines assess long-haul networks. If passengers demonstrate strong willingness to pay for nonstop access, other carriers could reconsider routes previously regarded as impractical because of distance.

Premium Travel Could Feel The Impact

The cabin configuration offers another indication of where Qantas sees commercial opportunity. First and Business Class receive considerable investment because passengers in these categories generally place a higher value on privacy, time and convenience.

The six First Suites will offer enclosed personal spaces with an 80-inch flat bed, a reclining armchair and room for working or dining. Business Suites will feature privacy doors and lie-flat beds, creating a stronger sense of personal space during the longest stages of the journey.

Economy passengers will also receive a product designed for prolonged travel. The aircraft will include 42 Economy Plus seats with a 34-inch pitch, providing additional legroom for passengers willing to pay for a more spacious experience.

That balance will be commercially important. The majority of the aircraft will remain in Economy and Premium Economy, meaning the entire cabin must deliver an experience that justifies the nonstop proposition.

Entertainment and connectivity will support that objective. The aircraft will feature a new entertainment system, fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairing, while content will be available in multiple languages. On a flight approaching 22 hours, such features become essential rather than decorative.

What Travellers Should Watch Before Booking

The first major milestone for travellers will be the opening of reservations. Qantas has indicated that bookings for the initial Sydney-London service are expected to open ahead of the October 2027 launch, although the programme remains subject to regulatory approvals and aircraft certification.

Travellers should therefore treat published schedules as planned rather than guaranteed. Aircraft delivery, regulatory clearances and operational readiness must all align before the first commercial service can begin.

Once bookings open, passengers should compare the entire journey rather than focusing solely on headline flight time. A nonstop fare may cost more than a connecting alternative, and the value will vary according to cabin, travel date, baggage requirements and onward connections.

Corporate travellers may find the premium particularly compelling because the time saving can translate into greater productivity. Leisure travellers will need to weigh the higher fare against the value of spending additional hours at their destination.

International visitors may also use Sydney as a gateway to other Australian destinations. A traveller arriving directly from London or New York could connect onwards to Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns or other destinations without first changing countries or aviation systems.

Connectivity Could Rewrite Australia’s Travel Map

Australia’s geography has always presented a challenge for international tourism. The country sits thousands of kilometres from Europe and North America, making long travel times an unavoidable part of visiting. Project Sunrise cannot reduce that physical distance, but it can remove one of the most frustrating elements of long-haul travel: the intermediate stop.

The potential impact is particularly strong for premium leisure and business travel. These segments often place a greater financial value on time, privacy and reliability. A nonstop service can therefore become a product in its own right rather than simply another flight option.

For tourism businesses, the implications could extend across the visitor economy. Hotels may benefit from additional high-value arrivals, tour operators could gain access to more convenient itineraries and regional destinations could receive additional visitors through domestic connections.

Sydney could also strengthen its role as Australia’s principal international gateway. Instead of functioning simply as the final destination, the city could increasingly serve as the first stage of broader Australian itineraries.

That possibility makes Project Sunrise strategically important for the wider tourism industry. The programme could influence not only how passengers fly, but also how international visitors structure their Australian holidays.

A New Chapter For Long-Haul Travel

But Project Sunrise is about so much more than two new airline routes. Qantas is also trying to make ultra-long-haul flying commercially viable while solving comfort, wellbeing and connectivity issues associated with journeys which can take almost a whole day.

The A350-1000ULR has the range required and the low-density cabin is purposely designed to provide more room for passengers. Then, the Wellbeing Zone, circadian lighting, premium suites and enhanced connectivity try to translate extreme flight length into a more palatable travel experience.

The case for tourism in Australia is equally compelling. The country still attracts millions of international visitors, and the United Kingdom and United States are still valuable long-haul markets.

For the traveller the proposition is ultimately simple: fewer stops, more ease and more useable time at the destination. Sydney-London is expected to be a non-stop service by October 2027, which will be the first major test.

If it all goes to plan, Qantas Project Sunrise could be more than an aviation milestone. It could be a game-changer in the way airlines view extreme-distance travel and the way international visitors view the accessibility of Australia.