Qantas has announced that direct flights between London and Sydney will commence in October 2027, marking the first non-stop commercial service on this route. The journey, estimated to take up to 22 hours, will become the longest commercial flight in the world. Tickets are expected to go on sale from February 2026.
Project Sunrise: A New Era in Aviation
The new service, part of Qantas's Project Sunrise initiative, will cover a distance of 16,995 kilometers (10,560 miles). Currently, the longest commercial flight is Singapore Airlines' New York-Singapore route at 15,349 kilometers. Qantas's non-stop flight will eliminate the need for a stopover, cutting up to four hours off current one-stop services.
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft from Airbus, each configured with 238 seats across four cabins: First Class, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. These planes will feature an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank to enable the ultra-long-haul flight.
Government and Industry Reactions
UK Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock hailed the announcement as a "powerful vote of confidence in the UK as a hub for global tourism" and a reflection of the deep ties between the UK and Australia. VisitBritain Chief Executive Patricia Yates noted that Australia is one of the UK's most valuable inbound markets, with visitor spending expected to reach £1.8 billion this year.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said: "Qantas was built on the belief that Australia's distance from the rest of the world should never stand in the way. 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."
Operational Details
The new route will operate alongside Qantas's existing Perth-London and Sydney-Singapore-London services. The Perth-London flight is currently the world's fourth longest. Qantas also plans a second Project Sunrise route connecting Australia and New York directly.
The non-stop flights will use Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, manufactured in Toulouse, France. These planes are designed for ultra-long-haul travel, with enhanced fuel capacity and passenger comfort features.
