Since 2017, we’ve been aware of Qantas’ “Project Sunrise” initiative, which will enable the airline to operate flights from Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) to New York (JFK) and London (LHR) utilizing specialized Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft. These flights will be the longest in the world, requiring passengers to remain onboard for nearly an entire day without any breaks.
Qantas has been hinting at this for almost ten years, and the airline has now revealed the first long-haul route to offer this service, along with an estimated launch date. However, additional waiting will be necessary, as this will only commence 16 months from now, in the best-case scenario.
Qantas’ historic Sydney to London flights disclosed
Qantas has declared its intention to initiate nonstop flights between Sydney and London starting in October 2027, with tickets available for purchase beginning in February 2027. This will mark the first-ever regularly scheduled nonstop flights between Australia’s East Coast and the UK.
London will be the inaugural destination for Qantas Project Sunrise
Qantas highlights that this announcement aligns with the unveiling of the first A350-1000ULR painted in Qantas colors at Airbus’ site in Toulouse. Qantas has been servicing the route between Sydney and London since 1947, when the initial “Kangaroo Route” took four days and included seven stops: Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito, and Rome, en route to the UK.
The forthcoming nonstop flights will reduce travel time by up to four hours compared to current one-stop flights. Even with the launch of the nonstop Sydney to London route, the airline intends to continue its one-stop services from Sydney to London via Perth (PER) and Singapore (SIN).
Qantas will commence this nonstop service once it has three A350-1000ULRs available — two aircraft are required for route operation, plus one spare. Thus, it is anticipated that the aircraft will begin service slightly earlier, operating regional routes, especially for crew training.
It’s not surprising that Qantas is launching Project Sunrise from Sydney, but it is intriguing that London has been selected over New York (it has been confirmed that Sydney to New York will indeed be the second route). Personally, I was expecting New York to precede London, though I didn’t necessarily have a solid basis for that assumption. I am interested in where Qantas will be acquiring the Heathrow slots for this service.
Qantas will commence flights from Sydney to London beginning late 2027
Here is what Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson had to say about this:
“Qantas was founded on the principle that Australia’s separation from the rest of the globe should never impede our connections. The pioneering drive of generations of our people has paved the way ever since, and today stands as the most momentous advancement in that mission throughout our 105-year legacy.”
“Since we first operated the Kangaroo Route in 1947, which involved seven stops on our way to London, each new generation of aircraft has removed one stop from the journey. Today, we are eliminating the final one.”
“We pledged in 2017 that Qantas would conquer the ultimate frontier of long-haul travel and link Australia’s east coast directly to London, a feat never achieved before. From October 2027, that promise is fulfilled.”
Qantas A350-1000ULRs will feature 238 seats across four cabins
Qantas has ordered a total of 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs, designed with additional fuel tanks and an increased maximum takeoff weight compared to the standard A350-1000, which the airline also has on order.
Qantas’ A350-1000ULRs will be uniquely configured for long-haul travel and will have a very roomy layout:
– Qantas’ A350-1000ULRs will accommodate just 238 passengers, significantly fewer than the typical seating for most other airlines’ A350s.
– The aircraft will offer four service classes, including six first-class seats, 52 business-class seats, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats.
– Economy will provide 33″ of pitch, which is generous and considerably more spacious than the average economy (where 31″ is typical for long-haul flights).
– Qantas will introduce a new first-class suite and revamped business class seats with a door on A350-1000s.
– Qantas A350-1000ULRs will include a dedicated wellness area.
– All Qantas A350-1000s will offer fast and free Wi-Fi in collaboration with Viasat.
Qantas will include first-class accommodations on its A350-1000ULRs.
I have provided more details about the cabin interiors in a separate article, because there