Qantas’ non-stop London, New York route to fly in 2027

Qantas was forced to push back launching its highly anticipated non-stop service from Sydney to London and New York – revealing the new date.

Qantas has revealed it plans to launch its highly anticipated non-stop service from Sydney to London and New York in early 2027.

Project Sunrise flights were initially due to kick off in 2025 but have been pushed back several times due to Covid and Airbus’ “manufacturing delays”.

The national carrier’s CEO Vanessa Hudson said the first of 12 adapted Airbus A350-1000 aircraft will be delivered at the end of next year, with the ultra-long-haul flights starting in early 2027.

Flights to the two major cities will take just over 20 hours from Sydney.

Qantas plans to launch its highly anticipated non-stop service from Sydney to London and New York in early 2027.

“You need about three aircraft to be able to have a daily service on a route like Sydney to New York or Sydney to London. So, that will actually start in the first half of 2027, when we get the three aircraft and then build from there,” Ms Hudson told media, including news.com.au, at an Airbus briefing in Hamburg, Germany, this week.

The A350 aircraft will have private first class suites, 52 all-new business class suites, 40 third-generation premium economy seats and 140 economy recliners extra leg room.

The first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, expected at the end of 2026, will be deployed on the short route to Auckland, NZ while it waits for a minimum three aircraft required for daily ultra long haul service.

In the meantime, Qantas will use the first aircraft to train its pilots and cabin crew, before it enters service.

The fleet features a first-in-market dedicated Wellness Zone.

A glimpse at First Class.

A look at economy class on the Project Sunrise flights.

“Like the Airbus XLR, an aircraft which is first of type need to go through certification with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), so we will work very closely with CASA,” Ms Hudson said.

“And then obviously given that this aircraft are going to be flying such distance we will be doing lots of training with our pilots and cabin crew.

“So, to do that, we will have that first aircraft probably flying on the Tasman to New Zealand, where it gives us a little bit of time to stretch its legs, but not too far.”

The A350 aircraft will have private first class suites, 52 all-new business class suites, 40 third-generation premium economy seats and 140 economy recliners extra leg room and lower back support.

Ms Hudson also noted that passengers should expect to pay roughly a 20 per cent premium for the direct service compared to Qantas’ existing Sydney-London flights via Singapore or Perth.