Qantas announces Sydney-London nonstop flight launch, longest commercial route

Qantas has announced October 2027 as the launch date for its highly anticipated nonstop flights between Sydney and London, a groundbreaking service under its "Project Sunrise" initiative. This route, expected to be the world's longest commercial flight with a duration of up to 22 hours, will utilize a specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR jet. The custom aircraft features an additional fuel tank and a unique cabin layout with only 238 seats, significantly less than the standard A350, offering enhanced space and comfort for passengers on the ultra-long-haul journey.

The airline revealed the first A350-1000ULR in its livery in Toulouse, France, with the initial aircraft delivery slated for April 2027. Tickets for these historic flights are expected to become available for purchase in February 2027. This service aims to drastically reduce travel time between the two major cities by eliminating the need for stopovers.