Qantas has confirmed the first-ever commercial nonstop flight between Sydney and New York, launching in mid-2028 under its Project Sunrise programme. The route will run between Sydney Kingsford-Smith and New York JFK, shaving roughly three hours off the current quickest option, which still requires a stop in Los Angeles and takes about 21 hours door to door.
The airline isn't new to pushing endurance limits. In July 2026 it completed a 19-hour test flight from Toulouse to Melbourne, with the return leg stretching to a record 24 hours and 24 minutes. Project Sunrise's first commercial route — Sydney to London — is slated to begin in October 2027, after years of delays caused by the pandemic and setbacks at Airbus.
Making the New York flight possible is the Airbus A350-1000ULR, a long-range variant with an added 20,000-litre fuel tank that can stay airborne for up to 16,000 kilometres, or about 22 hours. Qantas has ordered 12 of them, with the first delivery expected in April 2027. Each aircraft seats 238 passengers across four cabins: six first-class suites, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy seats and the remainder in economy.
The most talked-about feature for economy travellers may be the dedicated wellbeing zone between economy and premium economy. It's designed for stretching, guided exercise videos and grabbing snacks and drinks — a practical answer to the obvious question of what you do with your body during 18 hours in the air.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson framed the route as the end of a long quest, saying reaching New York nonstop completes a vision the airline set out years ago and calling it a moment of pride for the staff behind Project Sunrise. By the time all 12 aircraft are delivered, Qantas expects to have trained 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew, and more ultra-long-haul routes from Perth are on the roadmap.
For travellers, the numbers are fairly straightforward. Tickets are expected to go on sale in August 2027, with fares yet to be confirmed. Qantas has previously indicated nonstop tickets could run about 20% above stopover fares — which currently sit around €1,665 (about $1,900) return or €1,227 (about $1,400) one way. So the time saved will come at a premium, at least initially.
Who is this actually for? Anyone flying between Australia's east coast and the US northeast who values arriving three hours sooner and skipping the LA transit scrum entirely. Business travellers will likely jump first, but the wellbeing zone suggests Qantas is thinking about economy passengers too. If a direct 18-hour flight still sounds daunting, it's worth remembering the alternative: nearly a full day of travel with a connection in the middle. Watch for fare announcements after sales open in August 2027 — that will be the moment to judge whether the convenience premium is worth it.
