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Qantas Airways (ASX: QAN) is gearing up to launch the world's first non-stop commercial flights between Sydney and London next year, marking the first time that any airline has offered the service from Australia's east coast.
The airline overnight revealed the Airbus A350-1000ULR in full Qantas livery at Airbus' facility in Toulouse, France, in the most significant milestone yet for Project Sunrise - the carrier's long-running mission to connect Australia's east coast directly with London and New York without stopping.
The move follows Qantas introducing its historic non-stop service between Perth and London in 2018, although those flights have been temporarily suspended due to the current Middle East conflict.
Qantas has 12 of the ultra-long-range Airbus aircraft on order, with the first delivery scheduled for April next year and tickets to go on sale in February. The airline is targeting October 2027 for its first commercial flights.
The A350-1000ULR is fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank enabling flights of more than 16,000 kilometres, with each journey expected to take up to 22 hours.
The aircraft will be configured with 238 seats across four cabins - six in First, 52 in Business, 40 in Premium Economy and 140 in Economy - a significant reduction from the 350 seats found on standard A350-1000 configurations, reflecting the premium-heavy approach required for ultra-long-haul operations.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson says the route represents the culmination of a goal the airline has pursued since its founding 105 years ago.
“Qantas was built on the belief that Australia's distance from the rest of the world should never stand in the way," says Hudson.
"The pioneering spirit of generations of our people has forged that path ever since, and today is the most significant step in that mission in our 105-year history.
“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.
“We made a commitment in 2017 that Qantas would conquer the final frontier of long-haul aviation and connect Australia's east coast directly to London, something that has never before been possible. From October 2027, that promise becomes reality.”
Qantas research indicates strong demand for the service, with 70 per cent of surveyed travellers expressing intent to book a non-stop Sydney–London flight. Among premium travellers, the figure rises to 80 per cent.
VisitBritain data shows a record 1.2 million Australians visited the United Kingdom in 2024, spending a record £1.7 billion ($3.3 billion), while Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the UK was the fourth-largest source of short-term visitor arrivals to Australia, with 43,770 arrivals recorded in April 2026.
Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell says the service will deepen commercial and tourism ties between the two countries.
“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," says Farrell.
"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.
“Australia is a world class tourism destination and the new direct route launched by Qantas will help bring more people to our shores to experience the best we have to offer.”
UK Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock says the non-stop link will strengthen the bilateral relationship and boost visitor numbers in both directions.
“This is a historic moment, not just for British aviation and tourism, but for the millions of passengers who will experience flying from Sydney to London non-stop for the first time," says Peacock.
“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.”
The aircraft itself has been engineered specifically for the mission. Airbus says the A350-1000ULR is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and will undergo a two-month flight-test program before certification and delivery.
Among the engineering refinements, Airbus has developed a new galley air cooling system for the aircraft that saves about 300 kilograms in weight, a meaningful reduction on routes where every kilogram of payload competes with fuel capacity.
Sydney-New York has been confirmed as the next Project Sunrise route, with Qantas indicating timing will be announced next year.
The Project Sunrise announcement comes as Qantas and low-cost subsidiary Jetstar finalised a five-year deal for Western Sydney International Airport.
Jetstar's first commercial passenger flight from the new airport - a service to the Gold Coast - is scheduled for October this year.
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