Qantas will launch its world-first non-stop services between Sydney and London in October 2027, the first time the Kangaroo Route has ever been flown without stops.
Qantas has been flying between Sydney and London since 1947, when the journey took four days, with seven stops in Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito and Rome.
The new non-stop flights will cut up to four hours off the travel time compared to current one-stop services. These historic ultra long-haul services will operate alongside Qantas’ existing Perth-London and Sydney-Singapore-London services.
The A350-1000ULR has been specifically manufactured by Airbus for Project Sunrise, fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank that enables the aircraft to fly more than 16,000 kilometres, for up to 22 hours non-stop. It is a bespoke, one-of-a-kind plane with emphasis on a premium experience for customers.
Qantas will take delivery of 12 aircraft in total, each configured with 238 seats across four cabins.
A second aircraft is moving through its eight-week testing and certification program, having taken flight for the first time earlier this month.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said confirmation of the launch route marks a new dawn of travel for customers around the world.
“Since we first flew the Kangaroo Route in 1947, where we stopped seven times on the way to London, every generation of aircraft has taken a stop out of the journey. Today, we’re taking out the last one.
“We made a commitment in 2017 that Qantas would conquer the final frontier of long-haul aviation and connect Australia’s east coast directly to London, something that has never before been possible. From October 2027, that promise becomes reality.
“Eliminating the stopover saves customers up to four hours of travel time. This aircraft has been designed from the ground up for ultra long-haul travel, with a cabin built around science and combatting jetlag, with an onboard experience purpose-built for the length of the journey.”
Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator Don Farrell said: “Every year millions of people travel between Australia and the United Kingdom to visit family, for holidays or for business, and from 2027 the journey will become more comfortable, quicker and easier.
“This is a significant milestone for aviation and tourism in both Australia and the UK and a demonstration of the strong friendship between our two nations.
UK Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Qantas’ decision to make London the first destination for Project Sunrise is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK as a hub for global tourism, and a reflection of the deep ties between our two countries. Today marks a new phase of this role, opening up new opportunities for businesses, tourism, and the people who make both possible across Australia and the UK.”
Project Sunrise will eventually connect Australia’s east coast with other international destinations, with Sydney-New York confirmed as the next service to follow Sydney-London. Launch timing for these services will be announced next year.
