Updated June 18, 2026 — 1:43am, first published 9:17pm
Toulouse: Qantas has announced that by 2027, Australians will finally be able to board a plane in Sydney and step off in London without a single stopover.
The inaugural Project Sunrise flights will become the longest commercial flights in the world – up to 22 hours – aboard a specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR (for ultra-long range).
“The tyranny of distance for Australians will finally be conquered,” chief executive Vanessa Hudson said.
The flights will save customers up to four hours compared to the fastest one-stop service that you can take today, she said.
“It will give our customers something that no other airline in the world can give them, the choice, the choice to fly Sydney to London without swapping anywhere along the way on an aircraft.”
Flights are scheduled to begin in October 2027. Tickets will go on sale in February 2027. Qantas said once the Sydney flights begin, Sydney to New York will soon become the second destination for the 22-hour direct flights.
Lars Wagner Airbus CEO of the commercial aircraft and Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson speaking about Project Sunrise in Airbus’ factory in Toulouse, France. The Age “The A350 is going to give us the ability to connect East Coast Australia to London and New York, and that is going to be the starting point,” Hudson said, pointing to Qantas’ historic role in keeping Australia connected to Europe during World War II.
The flights are expected to leave Sydney early in the afternoon to arrive in the early morning in London. Project Sunrise flights from Melbourne would depend on future demand, Hudson said, making no commitment to them.
“If we see the demand, we’re going to be able [to] announce the routes progressively as the new aircraft come in over the next two-and-a-half years,” Hudson said. “So demand can change, we know how demand can change, and we’re going to be responsive to that.”
Nearly a decade after Project Sunrise was announced by Qantas, the first plane is undergoing test flights , while a second has been painted in its Qantas livery.
The A350-1000 ULR in its Qantas livery at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France. The Age The announcement of the schedule comes nearly a month after Airbus revealed that the first A350-1000ULR would not be in delivered to Qantas until 2027, from an earlier expectation of 2026.
Hudson announced the schedule to a gathering of invited journalists and industry experts at the Airbus production facility in Toulouse, France.
With the date for the first flight now firmly set, the stakes are raised for Qantas, as production delays to date have slowed the delivery of Airbus planes, particularly with the time taking for cabin interiors to be produced and safety certified requiring more time .
The displayed Airbus was named the Vega in honour of one of the World War II-era Double Sunrise Catalina planes which inspired the term “Project Sunrise”. But in a sign of the constraints in aircraft manufacturing, the plane did not yet have engines attached.
Qantas’ Project Sunrise route map released in June 2026. Qantas Qantas denied the lack of engines was due to production issues, and Hudson said instead it had “been pulled out of manufacturing to be here and to be present and to enjoy the moment”.
The separate Project Sunrise plane undergoing test flights has engines.
The aircraft manufacturing industry has not fully recovered from the fraying of supply lines that occurred during the COVID pandemic, when commercial aviation slowed to a trickle.
Hudson said Project Sunrise: “is also going to enable us, as Qantas, the national carrier, in times of need, whether it be war, whether it be weather, whether it be some kind of crisis, to be able to do what we know is a fundamental part of our purpose, which is to fly to any point of the globe to repatriate Australians in need”.
The A350-1000 ULR can fly more than 16,000 km, carrying 238 passengers across four cabins.
Chief financial officer Rob Marcolina dismissed concerns that the re-opening of traditional Middle Eastern routes , expected to trigger a fierce long-haul price war on flights to Australia, would squeeze Qantas’s plans to launch non-stop services from Sydney to London and New York.
While major Gulf carriers like Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Qantas’s codeshare partner Emirates are expected to drive down fares, Marcolina argued that Qantas targets a distinctly different market segment than airlines competing solely on price.
He noted that over two-thirds of the airline’s international passengers are premium leisure travellers.
“They’re prepared to pay a premium not only to fly direct but to get the Qantas service and the Qantas product,” Marcolina said, adding, “That’s not necessarily the people who would be attracted to fly through the Mideast.”
Linus Benjamin Bauer, founder of Singapore-based BAA & Partners, said a “one-stop routing exposes a journey to two segments plus a hub that may itself sit near a risk zon…
Read the full article at The Age →📄Source document: Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson
8 reports
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter2 days agoThe article discusses Qantas' Project Sunrise, a proposed long-haul flight between Sydney and London, drawing parallels to the Concorde's history. It notes that while the Concorde initially had niche appeal due to environmental concerns and high costs, Project Sunrise might face similar challenges. The article mentions recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affecting air travel and highlights Qantas' reliance on accurately assessing market demand.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of Qantas' Project Sunrise, comparing it to the Concorde's historical trajectory. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The discussion remains focused on economic and technological factors rather than political st
The AgeParty-alignedCenter2 days agoThe article discusses Qantas' Project Sunrise, a proposed long-haul flight between Sydney and London, drawing parallels to the Concorde's history. It notes that while the Concorde initially had niche appeal due to environmental concerns, Project Sunrise might face similar challenges. The article mentions recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affecting air travel and highlights Qantas' belief in potential demand for such flights.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of Qantas' Project Sunrise, comparing it to the Concorde's historical trajectory. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The discussion remains focused on economic and technological factors rather than political st
The AgeParty-alignedCenter3 days ago Qantas pilot on the new Project Sunrise flight and navigationQantas is set to launch the longest commercial flights in the world, known as Project Sunrise, which will last up to 22 hours. These flights will use a specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft designed for ultra-long-range travel.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses a technical and logistical development in aviation without any political commentary, framing, or biased language. It focuses on the engineering and operational aspects of the new flight project.
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter3 days ago Qantas pilot on the new Project Sunrise flight and navigationQantas is set to launch the longest commercial flights in the world, known as Project Sunrise, which will last up to 22 hours. These flights will use a specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft designed for ultra-long-range travel.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about Qantas' upcoming Project Sunrise flights without any apparent ideological framing or bias. It focuses on technical details such as the aircraft model and flight duration, avoiding any political commentary or subjective language.
SBS NewsState / PublicCenter3 days agoQantas has announced plans to launch non-stop commercial flights between Sydney and London by October 2027, marking the world's longest such route. The flights, part of the 'Project Sunrise' initiative, will use modified Airbus A350-1000ULR jets equipped with extended fuel capacity. Tickets will begin selling in February 2027. The project includes future services to New York and represents a major fleet upgrade initiated in 2017.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about Qantas' new flight plan without taking a stance or using biased language. It focuses on technical details, timelines, and corporate initiatives without emphasizing any political angle.
Official sources cited
- organisation Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson
The AgeParty-alignedCenter4 days ago Vega: Qantas shows off its first ultra-long-haul planeQantas has announced plans to launch non-stop flights between Sydney and London by 2027 using a specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR. These flights will be the longest commercial flights in the world, lasting up to 22 hours. The project, called Project Sunrise, aims to eliminate the need for stopovers on transcontinental journeys. Flights to New York are also expected to follow shortly after the London route begins. Tickets will be available for purchase in early 2027.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about Qantas' new flight routes and does not present any overtly biased language, framing, or emphasis. It quotes officials and describes the technical aspects of the project without taking a stance on the significance or implications of the development.
Official sources cited
- organisation Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson
- organisation Airbus CEO Lars Wagner
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter4 days ago Vega: Qantas shows off its first ultra-long-haul planeQantas has announced plans to launch non-stop flights from Sydney to London by 2027 using a specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR. These flights will be the longest commercial flights in the world, lasting up to 22 hours. The project, called Project Sunrise, aims to eliminate the need for stopovers between Australia and Europe. Flights to New York are also expected to follow shortly after. Tickets will be available for purchase in early 2027.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about Qantas' new flight routes and does not present any overtly biased language, framing, or emphasis. It quotes officials and describes the technical aspects of the project without taking a stance on its implications or benefits.
Official sources cited
- organisation Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson
- organisation Airbus CEO Lars Wagner
ABC News (Australia)State / PublicCenter4 days agoQantas has announced plans to launch direct flights between Sydney and London starting in October 2024 as part of its Project Sunrise initiative. The airline has received a specialized Airbus A350-1000 designed for ultra-long-haul flights. This marks the first route revealed for the project, with potential future routes including other east coast Australian cities to London and New York. Former CEO Alan Joyce originally proposed Project Sunrise in 2017.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about Qantas's new flight route and Project Sunrise without taking a stance on political issues. It includes quotes from Qantas executives and mentions historical context but does not exhibit biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of context.
Official sources cited
- press release AAP: Bianca De Marchi
Australia