Qantas will launch the first non-stop commercial flights between Sydney and London in October 2027, marking the first time one of the world’s most famous air routes will be connected without a stop from Australia’s east coast. It is a key step in the Project Sunrise program, through which Australia’s national carrier aims to open a new chapter in ultra-long-haul air travel.

The announcement comes as Qantas unveiled its first Airbus A350-1000ULR in the airline’s livery at Airbus’ manufacturing facility in Toulouse. The aircraft has been developed specifically for Project Sunrise and is expected to enable flights of more than 16,000 kilometres, lasting up to 22 hours non-stop.

Qantas has connected Sydney and London since 1947, when the original Kangaroo Route took four days and included seven stops: Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito and Rome. Almost eight decades later, Qantas says the final stop is being removed from the route.

The new flights are expected to cut total travel time by up to four hours compared with current one-stop services. Qantas will operate them alongside its existing Perth – London and Sydney – Singapore – London services. Tickets for the first Sydney – London Project Sunrise flights are expected to go on sale in February 2027.

The Airbus A350-1000ULR for Qantas is fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank, adapting it to the specific requirements of the world’s longest commercial flights. Qantas will take delivery of 12 such aircraft in total, each configured with 238 seats across four passenger cabins. A second aircraft is already undergoing an eight-week testing and certification program after making its first flight earlier this month.

Qantas is particularly emphasizing that its A350-1000ULR will have the lowest seat density of any A350 in the world. The 238-seat configuration has been designed to give passengers more space on flights that may last almost an entire day, while also offering a passenger experience different from conventional long-haul travel. The cabin development is based on years of research conducted in cooperation with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, with Caon Design Office and technology partners also involved in the project.

First Class will feature six fully enclosed suites in a 1-1-1 configuration. Each suite will have an 80-inch bed, a separate reclining armchair, a large work and dining area for one or two people, a full-height wardrobe and multiple spaces for personal belongings. Qantas says the new seats and mattresses were developed through months of testing to identify body pressure points, while the multi-layer memory foam mattress is intended to provide more even pressure distribution during sleep. Lighting in the suites will be programmable to support passengers’ circadian rhythm, while a digital exterior panel will allow discreet communication with cabin crew.

Business Class will have 52 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. For the first time, Qantas will introduce sliding doors in Business Class for added privacy, as well as adjustable dividers between the centre seats. Each suite will include an 80-inch bed, a large dining table and work surface, and increased storage space. Flexible dining is also planned, allowing passengers to choose meal times in line with time windows that research suggests are better suited to the body’s adjustment during ultra-long-haul flights. Cabin lighting will gradually dim at optimized intervals to help passengers transition toward rest.

The Premium Economy cabin will have 40 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration and has been completely redesigned for ultra-long-haul flying. Each seat will feature an ergonomic leg and calf rest system, an eight-inch winged privacy headrest, additional personal and amenity storage, and the most generous seat pitch of any Qantas aircraft. A dedicated multi-layer memory foam system has also been developed for this cabin, tested through ergonomic modelling, lumbar support analysis and pressure mapping.

Economy Class will have 140 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, with more generous overall seat pitch than any current Qantas aircraft. The new seats will also use multi-layer memory foam, while the upholstery will be made from woven wool in a colour Qantas describes as Australian “Pilbara Red”, with an emphasis on breathability and improved temperature comfort during long flights.

Qantas is also introducing Economy Plus, located at the front of the Economy cabin. A total of 42 seats in this zone will offer 34 inches of pitch, priority boarding and priority access to overhead baggage space. More than 70 per cent of seats on the aircraft will offer a pitch of 33 inches or more, which Qantas says will be the most generous layout in its fleet. Platinum One and Platinum frequent flyers will be able to select Economy Plus seats free of charge at the time of booking, while Gold members will have access 24 hours before departure, subject to availability.

One of the most interesting elements of the Project Sunrise cabin will be a dedicated passenger wellbeing area, the Wellbeing Zone, located between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins. Qantas says it will be the first airline in the world to offer such a purpose-built space on board an aircraft. The zone will feature sculpted wall panels, integrated stretch handles, an on-screen guided movement program, a hydration station and a selection of additional refreshments.

The inflight entertainment system will also receive a major upgrade. Qantas describes it as its most significant inflight entertainment improvement in more than a decade. A new journey planner, synchronized with the cabin lighting, will show passengers when meals will be served and when the cabin will dim for rest, allowing them to plan their activities across the full flight. The system will be available in 15 languages, remember viewing history and allow passengers to watch the same film with up to three others through a “watch together” feature. Fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairing will be available in all cabins, while passengers in every class will be able to pre-select meals before departure.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said Project Sunrise has allowed the airline to think differently about every part of the passenger experience. She emphasized that the cabin has been developed based on scientific understanding of what the body needs during a long flight, so passengers can arrive at their destination feeling as well as possible. Caon Design Office founder David Caon said every element of the cabin had been developed specifically for Qantas, from materials and lighting to ergonomics and the overall sense of space.

According to research cited by Qantas, Australian passengers’ interest in non-stop ultra-long-haul flights has increased from 58 to 70 per cent since February, while among premium travellers it reaches 80 per cent. Qantas also notes that since 2018 more than 1.7 million passengers have used its non-stop long-haul services from Perth to London, Rome and Paris, as well as Melbourne – Dallas and Auckland – New York, with those routes recording the highest customer satisfaction scores in the airline’s international network.

Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell described the new route as an important moment for aviation and tourism in both Australia and the United Kingdom, noting that millions of passengers travel between the two countries each year to visit family, for holidays or for business. UK Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock called Qantas’ decision a historic moment for British aviation and tourism, and a confirmation of London’s importance as a global tourism hub.

Qantas is already preparing operationally for the introduction of the A350-1000ULR. Pilots have begun training on Australia’s first A350 simulator in Sydney, while part of the training is also being conducted with British Airways in the United Kingdom. In the coming months, some pilots will also fly with Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. The initial group of Project Sunrise pilots is made up of current A330 pilots, with 40 already undergoing A350 training alongside their existing A330 flying.

By the time the twelfth A350ULR arrives, Qantas plans to train more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew for Project Sunrise operations. Engineers have already started classroom training in Sydney, while cabin crew will soon begin their own preparation program. Further trials and customer testing of the new cabin features are continuing ahead of the first flights planned for 2027.

Project Sunrise will not stop with London. Qantas has already confirmed that the next route will be Sydney – New York, with the launch timing to be announced next year. This will allow the Australian carrier to further expand its network of direct links between Australia’s east coast and major global destinations, using an aircraft specifically adapted for flights that until recently were not commercially feasible without a stop.