Qantas will launch the world’s first nonstop commercial flights between London and Sydney in October 2027, ending decades of stopover travel between the United Kingdom and Australia and marking a milestone in long-haul aviation.
The Australian flag carrier said the new service will reduce travel time by as much as four hours by eliminating the need for passengers to transit through another airport.
“Eliminating the stopover can save passengers up to four hours of travel time,” Qantas Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said, according to AFP on Thursday.
The announcement brings to fruition a project the airline has pursued for nearly a decade. Originally unveiled nine years ago under the name Project Sunrise, the initiative faced repeated delays before Qantas confirmed its planned launch in 2027.
The record-breaking route will be operated by Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, the manufacturer’s latest ultra-long-range model, which has been undergoing flight testing in Toulouse, France.
Qantas has ordered 12 aircraft for the project, each configured with 238 seats spread across four cabin classes. The jets have been specially modified for ultra-long-haul operations with an additional 20,000-liter center fuel tank, allowing nonstop commercial flights of up to 22 hours.
“This aircraft has been designed from the ground up for ultra-long-haul travel, with a cabin built on scientific research to help reduce jet lag and an onboard experience specifically tailored for extended journeys,” Hudson said.
Tickets for the nonstop London-Sydney service are scheduled to go on sale in February 2027, several months before the inaugural flight in October.
To prepare for the launch, Qantas will train more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew members to operate the Project Sunrise fleet once all 12 aircraft have been delivered. The airline said its pilots have already begun A350 simulator training in Sydney while also using British Airways training facilities in the United Kingdom.
Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell welcomed the announcement, describing the new route as a significant step for aviation and tourism.
“This is a major milestone for aviation and tourism in Australia and the United Kingdom and a testament to the strong friendship between our two countries,” Farrell said.
“Australia is a world-class tourism destination, and this new nonstop route from Qantas will help bring even more visitors to experience everything our country has to offer,” he added.
Qantas also confirmed that nonstop flights between Sydney and New York will become the next Project Sunrise route as the airline expands direct connections from Australia’s east coast to major international destinations. Details of that service are expected to be announced next year.
The London-Sydney service is expected to redefine long-distance air travel by connecting two of the world’s most distant global cities without a scheduled stop, a goal that has challenged airlines and aircraft manufacturers for decades.
