Qantas will launch nonstop flights between Sydney and New York in mid-2028.
As part of “Project Sunrise,” the service will become the first commercial nonstop route between Australia and New York. It will reduce total travel time by more than three hours compared with current one-stop services, connecting the two cities in around 18 hours. Ticket sales are expected to begin as early as August 2027.
It will be the second confirmed Project Sunrise route, following the Sydney–London service scheduled to launch in October 2027.
The route will be operated with Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft configured with 238 seats across four classes. The aircraft will feature an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank, enabling nonstop flights of more than 16,000 kilometers and up to 22 hours.
The first test aircraft is in the final stage of its flight-test program and recently completed a 24-hour, 24-minute nonstop flight from Melbourne to Toulouse. This is a world first for a commercial passenger aircraft. The first aircraft is set to be delivered in April 2027, with Qantas expected to receive a total of 12 aircraft.
In preparation for the aircraft deliveries, pilots have begun training on Australia’s first Airbus A350 simulator in Sydney. By the time the 12th aircraft is delivered, more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew members will have received training.
Qantas first began serving New York in 1958 as part of a round-the-world route from Sydney via Fiji, Honolulu, and San Francisco. It currently operates one daily round trip via Auckland.
Demand between Australia and the United States is growing, with visitor numbers from the United States up 5% year on year. Demand for Qantas flights to and from New York has nearly doubled compared with 2023.
Vanessa Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Qantas Group, said, “Overcoming the barrier of distance is what has shaped Qantas since its founding. Reaching New York nonstop completes a vision we have held for many years.” She added, “Flying this far is only worthwhile if customers can arrive feeling their best. From lighting and meals to the world’s first Wellbeing Zone, we have designed the onboard experience based on the science of ultra-long-haul travel.”
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