Qantas has confirmed it will launch the world’s first non-stop flights between Sydney and London from October 2027, marking a major milestone for its long-awaited Project Sunrise initiative and rewriting the history of the iconic Kangaroo Route.
The announcement was made as the airline unveiled its first Airbus A350-1000ULR in Qantas livery at Airbus’ manufacturing facility in Toulouse, France, bringing the carrier a step closer to achieving one of aviation’s most ambitious projects.
The new service will become the first non-stop flight between Australia’s east coast and London, eliminating the final stop on a route that has defined Australian international travel for almost 80 years.
Qantas has operated flights between Sydney and London since 1947, when the original Kangaroo Route took four days and required seven stops through Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito and Rome before reaching the UK.
The airline said the new service will reduce travel times by up to four hours compared with current one-stop options and will operate alongside existing services via Perth and Singapore. Tickets for the inaugural flights are expected to go on sale in February 2027.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson described the launch as a defining moment for both the airline and Australian aviation.
“Qantas was built on the belief that Australia’s distance from the rest of the world should never stand in the way. 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.”
Purpose-built for ultra long-haul flying, the Airbus A350-1000ULR has been specially manufactured for Project Sunrise and features an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank, allowing it to fly more than 16,000 kilometres and remain airborne for up to 22 hours.
Qantas will receive 12 of the aircraft, each configured with 238 seats across four cabins. A second aircraft is already undergoing testing and certification after completing its first flight earlier this month.
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Tourism and business travel boost
The launch is expected to provide a significant boost to both tourism and business travel between Australia and the United Kingdom.
Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator Don Farrell said the new route would strengthen ties between the two countries while making travel easier for millions of passengers.
“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.
“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.”
The UK Government also welcomed the announcement, with UK Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock describing the service as a landmark development for international travel.
“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.
“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.”
VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates offered ‘huge congratulations’ to Qantas on the announcement.
“Expanding airline connectivity and capacity from Australia is a major boost for our tourism offer, welcome and global competitiveness,” Yates said.
“This pioneering route will make travel seamless and more accessible for our Aussie leisure and business visitors alike, bringing our nations closer than ever before. Australian travellers are incredibly important to us.
“They stay longer, explore further, and contribute significantly to regional economies, with seven out of ten nights spent beyond London. We look forward to welcoming even more Australians to experience everything Britain has to offer through this game-changing new route.”
VisitBritain will later this year host its Australia and New Zealand Mission, connecting local travel trade with British tourism suppliers to drive bookings and regional dispersal.
Demand continues to grow
The airline said demand for ultra long-haul flying continues to grow. New research commissioned by Qantas found booking intent among Australians has risen from 58 per cent to 70 per cent since February, while among premium travellers the figure has reached 80 per cent.
Since 2018, more than 1.7 million passengers have travelled on Qantas’ non-stop long-haul routes, including services between Perth and London, Rome and Paris, as well as Melbourne-Dallas and Auckland-New York.
Hudson said the Project Sunrise experience had been designed specifically to improve passenger wellbeing on flights lasting almost an entire day.
“Eliminating the stopover saves customers up to four hours of travel time. This aircraft has been designed from the ground up for ultra long-haul travel, with a cabin built around science and combatting jetlag, with an onboard experience purpose-built for the length of the journey.”
Qantas is already preparing crews for the aircraft’s arrival, with pilots training on Australia’s first A350 simulator in Sydney and through partner airlines overseas. More than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew will be trained to operate the Project Sunrise fleet by the time the final aircraft is delivered.
Sydney-London will be the first Project Sunrise route to launch, with Sydney-New York confirmed as the next destination. Qantas said timing for the New York service will be announced next year.
