World's first direct London-Sydney flight route to launch next year

Qantas is set to launch the world's first direct commercial flights connecting London and Sydney starting in October 2027, marking a significant milestone in long-haul aviation.

The ultra-long-haul journey is anticipated to span between 19 and 22 hours, covering a distance of 16,995 kilometers. This route will surpass Singapore Airlines' current longest commercial flight between New York City and Singapore, which measures 15,349 kilometers.

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson stated that the airline was founded on the principle that Australia's distance from the rest of the world should not be a barrier. She added that the "pioneer spirit" of its employees has paved the way for this ambitious mission, which represents the most significant step in the company's 105-year history.

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Qantas was founded on the belief that Australia’s distance from the rest of the world should never stand in the way.

The specially configured Airbus aircraft for this route will be equipped with an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank, enabling the extended flight duration. Each plane will accommodate 238 passengers.

Project Sunrise, the initiative behind this new route, was initially launched by a former Qantas CEO in 2017. However, the project encountered delays, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent disruptions in global supply chains, pushing the delivery of the first aircraft back by five years. Analysts suggest that Qantas may need to implement a premium pricing strategy to ensure the project's financial viability. The airline already operates direct flights between London and Perth, located on Australia's west coast.

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The pioneer spirit that generations of our people have shown has paved the way ever since, and today we take the most significant step in this mission in our 105-year history.