Qantas has again postponed its planned non-stop service between Sydney and London, now scheduled to commence in October 2027. The airline cited aircraft delivery delays and regulatory approvals as reasons for the setback, while also dropping references to direct flights from Melbourne and Brisbane.
Project Sunrise, announced in 2017, has faced repeated delays, initially due to the Covid-19 pandemic and more recently due to extended waits for specially designed Airbus A350s. Airbus recently revealed the first aircraft would be delivered in April 2027, pushing back the start date further.
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson stated the airline remains committed to connecting Australia's east coast directly to London, with the promise becoming reality from October 2027. The direct flights are expected to be four hours shorter than typical one-stop services, using A350-1000ULR aircraft capable of flying 16,000km over 22 hours non-stop.
Tickets for the Sydney-London route may go on sale in February 2027, with prices yet to be disclosed. The service will feature fewer economy seats, with 40% of seats in premium classes. Qantas also plans a Sydney-New York non-stop route, with a launch date to be announced in 2027.
Earlier plans included Melbourne and Brisbane as hubs for direct flights to London and New York, but these have been dropped. Hudson indicated routes would be adjusted based on customer demand, noting that over 12,000 passengers flew between Sydney and London weekly in 2025, compared to 7,500 from Melbourne and 5,300 from Brisbane.
