Qantas has officially announced that London Heathrow will be the first destination to receive its groundbreaking Project Sunrise nonstop service from Sydney, with flights expected to begin in October 2027. The route is set to become the longest commercial passenger flight in the world, further shrinking the distance between Australia and Europe.
The airline also confirmed that nonstop flights between Sydney and New York JFK will follow shortly after the launch of the London service.
Project Sunrise was first unveiled in 2017 as an ambitious challenge to aircraft manufacturers to develop an aircraft capable of flying directly from Australia’s east coast to major global hubs such as London and New York without stopping. Until now, no commercial passenger aircraft has been able to operate these routes with a full passenger load.
Airbus answered that challenge with the development of the Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range). The first aircraft has now rolled off the assembly line in Toulouse, France, and will undergo extensive testing before entering service with Qantas next year.
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft, which will eventually open the door to additional ultra-long-haul routes from Australia. While future destinations have not yet been announced, the airline says London and New York will mark the beginning of a new era in global aviation.
Speaking at the aircraft delivery ceremony, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson described the milestone as the moment when “the tyranny of distance for Australians has finally been conquered.”
The launch of Project Sunrise will redefine long-haul travel, allowing passengers to fly directly between Australia and some of the world’s most important cities without a single stop.
