Qantas Sets October 2027 Start for 22-Hour Sydney-London Flights on A350-1000ULR
Updated
Updated · Sydney Morning Herald · Jun 18
Qantas Sets October 2027 Start for 22-Hour Sydney-London Flights on A350-1000ULR
3 articles · Updated · Sydney Morning Herald · Jun 18
Summary
October 2027 is now the firm launch date for Qantas’s Project Sunrise nonstop Sydney-London service, with tickets due to go on sale in February 2027 after years of planning.
The specially modified A350-1000ULR will fly up to 22 hours, carry 238 passengers more than 16,000 km, and cut as much as four hours from today’s fastest one-stop trip.
Sydney-New York is slated to follow soon after Sydney-London, while Melbourne services remain contingent on demand as additional aircraft arrive over the next two-and-a-half years.
The schedule comes after Airbus pushed first delivery to 2027 from 2026, underscoring supply-chain and cabin-certification delays; the showcased aircraft in Toulouse still lacked engines, which Qantas said was not a production problem.
Qantas argues the flights can withstand a renewed long-haul fare war via Middle Eastern hubs because its target market is premium leisure travelers willing to pay more for direct service and fewer disruption points.