Qantas to launch non‑stop Sydney–New York flights in mid‑2028 as part of Project Sunrise

# What happened

# Where this fits in Project Sunrise London, which is due to start in October 2027. The airline is configuring specially modified Airbus A350‑1000ULR aircraft to operate these ultra long‑haul missions.

# Aircraft and onboard product Qantas will use A350‑1000ULR aircraft configured with just 238 seats: 6 in First, 52 in Business, 40 in Premium Economy, and 140 in Economy (including Economy Plus). The cabin layout intentionally emphasises premium seating and includes:

• a dedicated "Wellbeing Zone" accessible to all passengers
• a new inflight entertainment system with an on‑screen journey planner, viewing history, movie sharing functionality
• high‑speed wi‑fi and Bluetooth connectivity

The airline says the onboard design and service elements were shaped by research into ultra long‑haul travel so customers arrive feeling as well as possible after extended flights.

# Testing and aircraft progress

# Timing and booking

• Mid‑2028: target start date for Sydney–New York non‑stop services.
• August 2027: planned date when tickets for the New York route will go on sale.
• October 2027: launch of Sydney–London non‑stop Project Sunrise services, which precedes New York.

# What Qantas says Qantas framed the route as completing a long‑standing ambition to connect Australia to major international markets non‑stop. The airline cited growing demand for travel between Australia and the United States and rising intent to book ultra long‑haul services, with higher interest among premium travellers.

# Practical implications for travellers Non‑stop flights will reduce total travel time by cutting out en‑route stops—Qantas said the new service will shave roughly three hours off the current fastest travel time between Sydney and New York that requires a stop. The aircraft cabin and onboard features are aimed at passenger wellbeing over the extended time in the air.

# Bottom line Qantas is positioning the A350‑1000ULR Project Sunrise fleet to operate the world's longest scheduled flights, first to London in late 2027 and then to New York in mid‑2028. The product is deliberately premium‑weighted and incorporates wellbeing and connectivity features designed for 18‑ to 20‑hour missions.