Qantas Names First Project Sunrise Route: Non-stop Sydney to London Starts October 2027

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 05:24

Qantas Names First Project Sunrise Route: Non-stop Sydney to London Starts October 2027

Qantas has officially confirmed that the first route of its Project Sunrise program will be a non-stop flight between Sydney and London. Ticket sales are planned to open in February 2027, and the first regular flights are expected to start in October 2027, subject to necessary certifications and regulatory approvals.

For tourists, this is not just another announcement of a new long-haul flight. If the schedule is met, Qantas will for the first time remove the last mandatory layover from the historic route between the east coast of Australia and Great Britain. A journey that once took several days and required a series of stops, is set to become a single flight lasting up to 22 hours. This will be a noticeable change for passengers flying between Australia, Britain, and Europe, as well as an important signal for the entire premium long-haul travel market.

The announcement was made on June 17, 2026, in Toulouse, where Qantas showcased the first Airbus A350-1000ULR in its own livery. This specially modified aircraft is intended to operate Project Sunrise flights. According to the airline and Airbus, 12 such A350-1000ULR aircraft have been ordered for the program, each designed for 238 passengers in four classes of service. The aircraft will receive an additional fuel tank of 20,000 liters, allowing flights over 16,000 kilometers without an intermediate stop.

What Exactly Qantas Announced

The main news is that London has been chosen as the first destination for Project Sunrise. The Sydney to London route is set to become a daily non-stop service from October 2027. Qantas also confirmed that these flights will not completely replace existing travel options: they will operate alongside current services via Perth and the Sydney-Singapore-London route. For some passengers, this will mean a choice between the shortest travel time, a layover for rest, or a combined route via other hubs.

The airline plans to put the first tickets for Project Sunrise Sydney to London on sale in February 2027. This is important for travelers planning trips for late 2027 and 2028: until the schedule and fares are released, the route should not be taken as a guaranteed option for a specific date. Qantas explicitly states that aircraft delivery, the start of sales, and the start of flights depend on certification, approvals, and fleet readiness.

The next destination within Project Sunrise is expected to be Sydney to New York, however, the exact launch dates for this route Qantas promises to announce later. Therefore, for tourists and business travelers between Australia and the USA, the main practical conclusion for now is cautious: the project is moving forward, but specific dates for New York are not yet a final travel product.

Why the Sydney to London Route Has Symbolic Meaning

The route between Australia and Great Britain has long held a special place in the history of air travel. Qantas reminds that it began flying between Sydney and London as far back as 1947. At that time, the journey took four days and passed through seven stops: Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito and Rome. With the development of jet aviation, the number of stops gradually decreased, and the launch of Project Sunrise is effectively intended to remove the last one of them.

For the modern passenger, this means more than just saving time. A layover in Asia or the Middle East often adds risks: delays of the first segment, overnight waiting at the airport, repeated security checks, baggage connections, terminal changes, problems with transit rules or the consequences of airspace closure. A direct flight does not eliminate all risks of a long journey, but it changes its logic: instead of managing a connection, the passenger buys one very long flight.

At the same time, the non-stop format will not be ideal for everyone. Some tourists find it more comfortable to split the journey into two segments, spend a night in a hotel near a hub, or take a short stopover in Singapore, Dubai, or Perth. That is why the appearance of the longest direct flight does not mean the disappearance of traditional routes. Rather, it adds another, more time-efficient and likely more expensive option.

What the Aircraft for Project Sunrise Will Be Like

The Airbus A350-1000ULR for Qantas is being developed as a special version of the long-haul aircraft. Airbus reports that the certification flight program has already begun after the first flight of the production A350-1000ULR aircraft on June 2, 2026. The test campaign is necessary to verify the modified fuel system, the additional tank, the new galley cooling architecture, and the aircraft's performance in ultra-long-haul flight conditions.

Qantas emphasizes that the cabin will not just be an enlarged version of a regular long-haul aircraft. The configuration provides for 6 first-class seats, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy class seats. Over 40% of the seats are allocated to premium cabins, and the total number of passengers is lower than in many standard A350-1000s. This is important for the route's economics: the airline is effectively betting on passengers who are willing to pay for time savings, space, and comfort on a flight lasting almost a day.

Among the announced experience elements are a movement and stretching zone, fast free Wi-Fi, Bluetooth audio, special lighting scenarios designed with circadian rhythms in mind, and improved seats in all classes. In economy class, Qantas claims a seat pitch of 33 inches, and in first class, separate closed suites with a two-meter bed. All this sounds ambitious, but for passengers, it is worth remembering: the final product may be refined until the aircraft enters commercial operation.

What This Will Change for Tourists

The most obvious advantage is time. Qantas estimates savings of up to four hours compared to current routes with one stop. For travel between Australia and Great Britain, this can be decisive for passengers with short vacations, family visits, business trips, and connections further into Europe. If a tourist flies from another city in Australia, they will still have to reach Sydney, but after that, the international part of the route will become simpler.

Passengers planning to depart from Sydney Airport (SYD) should evaluate the time for domestic connection, baggage, passport control, and the way to the terminal in advance. For long flights, a time buffer is more important than usual: a missed departure on a route that may be operated by a limited number of special aircraft will be harder to replace with a similar flight on the same day. Before the trip, it is also useful to check the Sydney Airport online board and, if the departure is very early or after a domestic flight, consider hotels near SYD airport.

After arriving in Great Britain, the main hub will be London Heathrow (LHR). For travelers, this is convenient due to the large number of flights further into Europe, but Heathrow remains one of the busiest airports in the world. After a nearly 22-hour flight, it is better not to plan too short a self-connection. If you need to continue the route by train, domestic flight, or car, you should leave time for passport control, baggage, and possible queues. For practical planning, the LHR online board, hotels near Heathrow, and the page about transfers and taxis from London Heathrow Airport will be useful.

Price, Comfort, and the Risk of Ultra-Long-Haul Flights

The biggest question for tourists is not only the duration, but also the price. Qantas has not yet published fares for Project Sunrise, but the economics of the route suggest a premium product: a special aircraft, fewer seats, and a high proportion of premium cabins and a very long block of time for crew and aircraft. According to industry media, the airline expects to receive a premium on the cost compared to options with a layover, especially in business and premium economy class.

Therefore, the practical choice for a tourist will be: pay more for a direct flight and a reduction in total travel time, or choose a cheaper route with a layover, the possibility of rest, and a wider choice of airlines. For young travelers, families with children, people with medical restrictions, or passengers who find long flights difficult, a layover may remain a more comfortable solution, even if the total journey takes longer.

Separately, the physiology of ultra-long-haul flight should be considered. Even if the airline offers lighting, lighting, nutrition, and space for movement, 20-22 hours in a plane require planning. Passengers should think through sleep, hydration, movement in the cabin, medication, compression socks as recommended by a doctor, the work schedule after arrival, and adaptation to the time zone. For a tourist trip, this means that the first day in London or Sydney is better not to overload with a dense program.

Impact on the Aviation Market and Tourist Flows

Project Sunrise may change competition on routes between Australia and Europe. For decades, a significant part of the traffic between these markets was taken by hubs in Asia and the Middle East. A direct Sydney to London flight gives Qantas the opportunity to return some passengers, for whom the main value is not price, but time and simplicity of the route. This especially concerns corporate clients, premium tourists, passengers with short trip durations, and those who want to avoid complex layovers.

For London, this is also a tourist signal. Great Britain receives not just a new flight, but a direct bridge with the largest city in Australia. For Australia, the route may support inbound tourism from Great Britain, especially among travelers who were previously deterred by the duration and complexity of the flight. At the same time, it should not be expected that one flight will sharply change mass tourist demand: the limited number of seats and the premium nature of the product mean that the impact will be qualitative rather than just quantitative.

It is noteworthy that Qantas has experience with non-stop long-haul routes, notably from Perth to London, Rome, and Paris, as well as from Melbourne to Dallas and from Auckland to New York. The airline reports that since 2018, over 1.7 million passengers have used its non-stop long-haul services. This gives Project Sunrise a commercial base: Qantas is not just testing an idea, but expanding an already proven model of direct long-distance travel.

What to Check Before Booking

While sales are not yet open, travelers should treat the news as a guideline for planning, rather than a ready-made schedule. Before booking in 2027, one should check several things: the exact launch date, flight frequency, aircraft type, ticket change conditions, baggage, entry requirements for Great Britain or Australia, connection rules, and one's own readiness for an ultra-long-haul flight.

  • If the main priority is minimum travel time, Project Sunrise may become the most convenient option between Sydney and London.
  • If price is important, it is worth comparing the direct flight with routes via Singapore, Perth, Dubai, Doha, or other hubs.
  • If rest during the journey is needed, a layover or stopover may remain a better choice.
  • If there are medical risks or difficulty with prolonged sitting, it is worth consulting a doctor before buying a ticket.

Conclusion

The Qantas announcement is one of the most important aviation news of the week, because it moves Project Sunrise from a technological promise to a specific route with a stated launch date. Sydney to London non-stop is set to become a new benchmark for ultra-long-haul flights: faster than traditional routes with a layover, more comfortable due to a special cabin, but likely more expensive and not physically comfortable for every passenger.

For tourists, the main thing is to not rush to conclusions until fares and the full schedule appear. If Qantas fulfills the stated plan, from October 2027, travel between Australia and Great Britain will indeed become simpler: without an intermediate hub, without changing planes, and with savings of up to several hours. But the best route will still depend on the budget, health, connections, baggage, and how exactly the traveler handles nearly a day in the air.