Qantas unveils 22-hour nonstop flights from Sydney to London and New York on A350-1000ULR

Summary

Qantas will remove the final stop on the Sydney–London route in October 2027, using the Airbus A350-1000ULR to launch the world’s first scheduled nonstop between the two cities. The first aircraft arrives in April 2027, after a slip from late 2026, and tickets open in February 2027. The cabin carries 238 passengers across four classes, with six first-class suites featuring 80-inch flat beds.

A Sydney–New York nonstop also arrives in 2027, though no launch date is fixed. The 19- to 22-hour sectors will test whether passengers choose nonstop comfort over one-stop connections.

For nearly eight decades, Sydney to London meant stops—seven of them in 1947, taking four days. Qantas will erase the last one in October 2027.

The carrier’s Project Sunrise program moves from planning to deployable inventory next year. The first Airbus A350-1000ULR delivery has shifted from a late-2026 expectation to April 2027, but commercial nonstop service remains on track for the second half of 2027. Qantas confirmed the first Sydney-London flight will depart in October 2027, with a Sydney-New York nonstop also planned for the same year. The airline has not set a date for the New York route.

The aircraft will carry 238 passengers across four cabins, including six first-class suites and 52 business suites. Qantas worked with the Charles Perkins Centre to design movement, sleep, and hydration features around ultra-long-flight physiology. A dedicated wellbeing zone includes stretching handles, a digital movement program, and a hydration station.

For business class and first class flyers, the shift is immediate: connection friction disappears on two of Australia’s most important premium corridors. The real question is whether Qantas can price 19- to 22-hour flights as comfort rather than endurance.

The details

Qantas’ official A350 page confirms the revised timeline: delivery in April 2027, first Sydney-London service in October 2027, and ticket sales opening in February 2027. The carrier’s Project Sunrise page also outlines the aircraft’s range of more than 16,000 kilometers and up to 22 hours of nonstop capability. The aircraft will be configured with 238 seats. That configuration is deliberately low-density to support the wellbeing focus.

Airbus flew the A350-1000ULR for the first time on 2 June 2026 during certification testing. The variant adds a fifth fuel tank to support the route. Qantas’ Travel Insider notes the aircraft’s low-density layout and wellbeing focus.

What the nonstop shift means for premium competition

Project Sunrise is not just a route; it’s a direct challenge to one-stop premium itineraries through Dubai, Doha, and Singapore. Qantas is betting that saving six or more hours of total travel time will offset the physical toll of a 22-hour sector.

Air Traveler Club’s cabin survival analysis walks through the wellbeing features and seat map in detail, helping readers assess whether the product justifies the likely fare premium over connections.

The six first-class suites and 52 business suites are deliberately scarce. That scarcity will shape upgrade availability from day one.

Booking window and award strategy for Sydney-London

This launch matters for booking decisions because the February 2027 sales window will determine who secures scarce first-class and business-class space before the October launch.

• Set an alert now: Qantas has not announced a specific February date. Check the official A350 page weekly from January 2027.
• Use Classic Flight Rewards: Fixed points pricing applies, but availability on Qantas and oneworld partners will be tight for the first nonstop departures.
• Prepare a one-stop backup: Compare award space through Doha, Dubai, or Singapore to lock in a refundable or changeable option if nonstop seats vanish.
• Watch for Sydney-New York: Qantas says nonstop New York service is coming in 2027 but has not set a date. The same booking logic applies once tickets open.

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