Qantas Confirms Sydney-London Route as World’s Longest Non-Stop Flight Launches in 2027

Qantas has confirmed Sydney to London as the inaugural route for its long-awaited “Project Sunrise” initiative, with the world’s longest non-stop passenger flight scheduled to launch in October 2027. The service will cover more than 16,000 kilometres without stopping.

The Australian carrier has unveiled the first of its specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft designated for the route. Flight durations between Sydney and London are projected to range between 19 and 22 hours.

Project Sunrise will eventually expand to connect Australia’s east coast with additional international destinations, with Sydney-New York confirmed as the next route. Timing for these additional services will be announced next year.

“Qantas was built on the belief that Australia’s distance from the rest of the world should never stand in the way,” stated Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson. “The pioneering spirit of generations of our people has forged that path ever since, and today is the most significant step in that mission in our 105-year history.”

“Since we first flew the Kangaroo Route in 1947, where we stopped seven times on the way to London, every generation of aircraft has taken a stop out of the journey. Today, we’re taking out the last one.”

“We made a commitment in 2017 that Qantas would conquer the final frontier of long-haul aviation and connect Australia’s east coast directly to London, something that has never before been possible. From October 2027, that promise becomes reality.”

Qantas’ Customised A350-1000ULR

The current longest regularly scheduled non-stop passenger flight is operated by Singapore Airlines between Singapore and New York, covering 15,349 kilometres in just under 19 hours.

A key difference is that Singapore Airlines’ flight SQ24 does not offer economy class seating. Meanwhile, Qantas’ customised A350-1000ULR will accommodate 238 passengers across four cabin classes, including 140 economy seats on the Sydney-London route.

The existing farthest direct economy flight is operated by Qantas between London and Perth, covering 14,499 kilometres over 16 to 18 hours.

The A350-1000ULR features an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank developed specifically by Airbus for Project Sunrise, enabling the aircraft to fly over 16,000 kilometres non-stop for up to 22 hours. Qantas will receive 12 of these aircraft, each configured with 238 seats.

A second aircraft is currently completing its eight-week testing and certification programme following its initial flight earlier this month.

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