Qantas will begin nonstop flights between Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and London Heathrow Airport in October 2027, utilizing the Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft. This will be the first nonstop service on the historic Kangaroo Route from Australia’s east coast.
Airbus A350-1000ULR Aircraft Specifications
The A350-1000ULR is an ultra-long-range variant modified to carry 168,000 liters of fuel thanks to an added 20,000-liter rear center tank. It seats 238 passengers across four cabins, the lowest density for any A350 model, enabling nonstop flights lasting up to 22 hours and covering distances over 16,000 km (10,000 nautical miles). Qantas ordered 12 aircraft, with the first delivery scheduled for
April 2027 after the initial test flight on June 2, 2026, in Toulouse, France.
Flight Route and Duration
The Sydney-London nonstop route will operate via a new polar flight path, heading north from Sydney, crossing the equator and polar regions before descending into London. Northbound flights can last up to 21 hours, while return trips are typically one to two hours shorter due to tailwinds. This route cuts travel time by up to four hours compared to the fastest existing one-stop flights through hubs like Singapore, Dubai, or Doha.
Cabin Configuration and Passenger Comfort
Project Sunrise’s cabin layout includes six enclosed First Class suites with 80-inch flatbeds, 52 Business
Class suites featuring sliding doors, 40 Premium Economy seats, 42 Economy Plus seats with a 34-inch pitch, and 140 Economy seats with at least 33 inches of pitch. Business Class introduces Qantas’s first sliding door suites, enhancing passenger privacy. The design incorporated input from the University of Sydney Charles Perkins Centre on passenger wellbeing, with cabin designs developed alongside Caon Design Office, while Safran Seats and RECARO Aircraft Seating supply Business and Economy seats, respectively.
Project Sunrise Context and Future Routes
Project Sunrise aims to eliminate stopovers en route between Australia and the United Kingdom, a challenge dating back nearly a century. The name references Qantas’s
1940s Double Sunrise flights, which lasted up to 33 hours. The Sydney to New York nonstop service, the second Project Sunrise route, will commence after the London launch. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson leads the project, which includes training over 360 pilots and more than 1,200 cabin crew in preparation for operations.
Benefits for Travelers and Australia–UK Connectivity
Passengers will benefit from direct nonstop travel between Sydney and London starting in October 2027, avoiding stopovers and connections that have traditionally extended the journey. The new service reduces flying time by up to four hours compared to the quickest one-stop itineraries. Ticket sales for these flights will open
in February 2027, allowing early bookings for this unprecedented direct long-haul connection.
