Qantas Airways has announced that it will launch nonstop flights on the Sydney–London route in 2027.
The announcement was made to coincide with the unveiling of the first ultra–long-range Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft. Equipped with an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank, the aircraft can fly for up to 22 hours and cover more than 16,000 kilometers. The cabin will have 238 seats in four classes. Qantas plans to introduce 12 of these aircraft.
The airline had previously revealed plans to launch nonstop flights under the name “Project Sunrise.” The “Kangaroo Route” connecting Sydney and London was inaugurated in 1947. At that time, the route included stops in Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta (Kolkata), Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito, and Rome.
Compared to current connecting services, the nonstop flights will reduce travel time by up to four hours. Even after the launch of the nonstop service, Qantas will continue to operate the Perth–London/Heathrow route and the Sydney–Singapore–London/Heathrow route.
Pilots have begun training in a simulator in Sydney and with British Airways in the United Kingdom. In the coming months, training will also be conducted with Hong Kong–based Cathay Pacific Airways. By the time the 12th aircraft is delivered, more than 360 pilots and over 1,200 cabin crew are expected to have completed training.
Under “Project Sunrise,” the next confirmed route is Sydney–New York, with the launch timing scheduled to be announced next year.
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