Qantas Airways (QF) will launch the world’s first non-stop commercial flights between Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in October 2027. The announcement, made on June 17, 2026, positions the Sydney–London route as the longest scheduled commercial flight in aviation history, with a flight time of up to 22 hours covering approximately 17,015 kilometres. The service forms the centrepiece of the airline’s “Project Sunrise” programme, which aims to connect Australia’s east coast directly with major global cities.
The Australian flag carrier unveiled its first Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft in full Qantas livery at Airbus’ manufacturing facility in Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS), France. The aircraft — the only type capable of sustaining ultra-long-haul flights of this range — was purpose-built for Qantas and features a specially modified fuel system. Tickets for the Sydney–London service will go on sale in February 2027, with Sydney–New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) confirmed as the next destination to follow later in the same year.
Qantas Confirms London As The First Project Sunrise Route
Qantas announced the launch of the world’s first non-stop service between Sydney and London in October 2027, fulfilling a core objective of its “Project Sunrise.” The roughly 20-hour daily flight will use custom-ordered Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, designed for ultra-long-haul travel and equipped to help mitigate jetlag.
The route will immediately become the world’s longest scheduled commercial flight, at up to 22 hours. At a distance of 10,573 miles (17,015 km), the Sydney–London flight will leapfrog Singapore Airlines’ Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) non-stop service, which is blocked at almost 19 hours.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson revealed the record-breaking non-stop route will begin in time for the IATA 2027–2028 Winter Season. Hudson stated that Sydney–New York will launch towards the end of 2027, with a confirmed date to be announced early next year.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson commented on the milestone in the official press release:
“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.”
Hudson also addressed the broader passenger experience, saying that elimating the stopover “saves customers up to four hours of travel time”:
This aircraft has been designed from the ground up for ultra long-haul travel, with a cabin built around science and combatting jetlag, with an onboard experience purpose-built for the length of the journey.”
The Kangaroo Route: From Four Days To 22 Hours
Qantas has flown from Sydney to London since 1947. In its early years, the flight gained the nickname ‘The Kangaroo Route’ due to the large number of stopovers, or hops, needed to fly between Australia and the UK.
When the original Kangaroo Route launched, it took four days with seven stops in Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito, and Rome on the way to the UK. Each stop reflected the range limitations of aircraft of the era.
The name “Project Sunrise” carries historical significance. During the Second World War, after the fall of Singapore, Qantas operated Catalina flying boats from Western Australia to Sri Lanka to connect with onward flights to London. Those non-stop flights, carrying just three passengers and 70 kg of essential mail, lasted 33 hours — during which passengers and crew saw the sun rise twice.
Non-stop flights from Perth International Airport (PER) to London Heathrow commenced in March 2018 with Boeing 787s, making the Kangaroo Route a non-stop route for the first time and connecting Australia and Europe via a non-stop route for the very first time. The October 2027 Sydney–London service now extends that milestone further, bringing non-stop service to Australia’s most populated city.
What Government and Industry Leaders Said
The announcement drew responses from senior officials in both Australia and the United Kingdom.
Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, said in Qantas’ official press release:
“Every year millions of people travel between Australia and the United Kingdom to visit family, for holidays or for business, and from 2027 the journey will become more comfortable, quicker, and easier. This is a significant milestone for aviation and tourism in both Australia and the UK and a demonstration of the strong friendship between our two nations.”
The UK government also welcomed the development, with a spokesperson quoted in Qantas’ press release:
“Qantas’ decision to make London the first destination for Project Sunrise is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK as a hub for global tourism, and a reflection of the deep ties between our two countries. Today marks a new phase of this role, opening up new opportunities for businesses, tourism, and the people who make both possible across Australia and the UK.”
CNN’s Richard Quest covered the announcement live from Toulouse, calling Project Sunrise a significant moment for commercial aviation.
Delays And the Road to October 2027
Project Sunrise has not followed a straight line from announcement to launch. In 2019, Qantas announced Project Sunrise, originally targeting 2025 for launch. Between 2020 and 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel, manufacturing, and global supply chains.
The October 2027 launch date represents an approximately six-month delay from the timeline Qantas pointed to last November. Delivery delays from Airbus, driven in part by seat manufacturing bottlenecks, have repeatedly shifted the schedule.
At a panel discussion in Toulouse hosted by CNN’s Richard Quest, Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Executive Vice President Sales of the Airbus Commercial Aircraft business, was asked directly about the cause of delays. As reported by Point Hacks:
“What is it [causing the delay?] Is it the ovens, the seats?” Quest asked.
“Unfortunately, it’s all of the above. It’s mainly the seats… with premiumisation comes complexity. The seat situation is definitely the bottleneck for us,” de Saint-Exupery replied.
Qantas says the success of its Boeing 787-9 routes, including its one-stop from Sydney to London via Singapore, “continues to show Project Sunrise’s potential.” Qantas International division achieved a 20 percent improvement in underlying EBIT to A$903 million during FY2025.
