en.Wedoany.com Reported - Qantas has confirmed that its direct Sydney to London flight will commence in October 2027, becoming the world's longest regular commercial flight upon operation, with a one-way flight time of up to 22 hours.
This route is a core part of Qantas' "Project Sunrise." The airline also announced that direct flights from Sydney to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) will launch by the end of 2027, with specific dates to be announced early next year. Sydney and London are 10,573 miles (17,015 kilometers) apart, and the new route is expected to save up to four hours of flight time compared to the existing QF1/QF2 flights that stop in Singapore. To operate these ultra-long-haul routes, Qantas has ordered 12 dedicated Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft, with an additional 12 A350-1000LR (Long Range) wide-body jets to be delivered progressively. The ULR variant extends the range by 1,000 nautical miles (1,852 kilometers) compared to the standard A350-1000, achieved by adding a 20,000-liter fuel tank at the rear of the fuselage. The first painted A350-1000ULR has been unveiled at Airbus' Toulouse facility and completed its maiden flight earlier this month. It is expected to be delivered in April 2027, with tickets going on sale in February 2027.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson, while visiting the Airbus Toulouse facility, stated that since the first "Kangaroo Route" flight in 1947, each generation of aircraft has reduced the number of stopovers, and the new aircraft will eliminate the final stop. In terms of cabin configuration, the A350-1000ULR features a four-class layout with only 238 seats, including six first-class suites, 52 business-class seats, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats, with premium cabins accounting for 40% of capacity, aimed at ensuring passenger comfort on ultra-long-haul flights. This layout is significantly lower than the standard A350-1000's typical capacity of over 330 seats.
Each route requires three aircraft to operate daily flights. With all 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft delivered over the next three years, Qantas will explore other potential ultra-long-haul routes, with Melbourne to London and Melbourne to New York remaining viable options. These aircraft can also be deployed on its existing Perth to London route.
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