Qantas plans to launch daily nonstop flights between Sydney and London in October 2027, with tickets scheduled to go on sale in February. The service will take over the airline’s QF1 and QF2 flight numbers and use a specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR.
Sydney–New York flights are scheduled to follow in mid-2028, with sales planned to begin in August 2027. Qantas expects to receive its first aircraft for the programme, named Vega, in April 2027.
The airline plans to retain its Sydney–London service through Singapore under flight numbers QF5 and QF6. Passengers will therefore be able to choose between a nonstop journey and an itinerary that breaks the trip at Changi Airport.
The Kangaroo Route Keeps Two Ways to Reach London
When Qantas began flying between Sydney and London in December 1947, the journey took four days and involved seven stops. Later generations of aircraft reduced the number of stops, and Singapore became an established part of the route.
Qantas took a step towards nonstop UK service in 2018 when it launched Perth–London flights with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Project Sunrise brings that model to Australia’s east coast, where Sydney passengers will be able to board a London flight without first travelling to Perth or changing planes elsewhere.
Keeping the Singapore service gives travellers a choice that goes beyond elapsed time. Someone heading to London for a short visit may prefer the nonstop flight. A leisure traveller who wants to spend time in Singapore can still build that stop into the journey.
Qantas Designs the A350 for Up to 22 Hours in the Air
Qantas ordered 12 Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft for Project Sunrise. The ultra-long-range version incorporates an additional fuel tank to support flights of up to 22 hours. Each aircraft is designed to carry 238 passengers across four cabins.
The cabin design includes a dedicated area where passengers can leave their seats and move around. On an itinerary through Singapore, travellers can walk through the terminal between flights. On the nonstop service, opportunities to change position and take a break from the seat come within the cabin itself.
The aircraft’s fuel capacity makes the route possible, while the cabin layout helps define what customers will pay for. Seat choice, personal space and the time of arrival may carry more weight on a single sector of this length.
Singapore Airlines Offers a Different Long-Haul Model
Singapore Airlines already operates nonstop services from Changi to New York JFK and Newark on the Airbus A350-900ULR. Its aircraft on those services offer Business Class and Premium Economy. Qantas plans a four-cabin layout that includes standard Economy, giving it a different mix of seats to sell.
The two airlines also serve different journey patterns. Singapore can be a passenger’s destination or a point of connection to another flight. Project Sunrise is designed around direct links between Sydney and two specific cities. Travellers whose journey starts or ends elsewhere will still need to compare connections across the wider network.
What the New Flights Could Mean for Tourism and Business Travel
The nonstop service could make a shorter Sydney or London visit more practical for travellers who value time at their destination. Tour operators can build itineraries around a single flight between the cities. Hotels and ground transport providers will be able to plan around the service once Qantas publishes its detailed timetable.
For employers booking corporate travel, the comparison includes the schedule after landing. A shorter overall journey may make an itinerary easier to fit around meetings, while the arrival hour can influence when an employee can check in or start work.
When tickets go on sale, passengers will be able to compare actual fares, cabin availability and arrival times against the existing Singapore option. For someone continuing beyond London or New York, the onward flight or train may determine how much time the nonstop service ultimately saves.
For more travel news like this, keep reading Global Travel Wire
