Qantas has postponed its planned nonstop service between Sydney and London Heathrow or New York JFK until late 2027, five years later than originally scheduled. The airline aims to overcome what it calls 'the tyranny of distance' with the world's longest passenger flight, covering 10,573 miles between London and Sydney.
The direct distance between London and Sydney is over 1,000 miles further than the current longest route, Singapore Airlines' New York JFK-Singapore service at 9,537 miles. Qantas already operates a London-Perth nonstop of 9,009 miles, but due to extended flight times from avoiding conflict zones, the westbound service is refuelling in Singapore until at least July 2026.
Qantas has ordered a dozen specially configured Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, each with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank, enabling 22-hour flights. The planes will have only 238 seats, less than half the maximum, offering more space and lower weight. Economy seats will have a 33-inch pitch, one inch more than on the current A380 route via Singapore.
The airline expects to reveal the first route and start date in mid-June 2026, but delivery delays mean the first A350 will arrive in April 2027, pushing commercial flights to the second half of 2027. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson predicted fares around 20% higher than existing flights, but analysts suggest the premium may be much larger due to limited supply and high demand.
Currently, the Middle East conflict has reduced competition from Gulf carriers, and Qantas's London-Perth nonstop has sold for up to £2,000 one-way in economy. Between London and Sydney, peak-time economy fares of £3,000 to £4,000 return are expected. The operation is costly, requiring four pilots and 15 cabin crew, with fuel being the biggest expense as much is burnt to carry fuel for later in the flight.
Environmental groups criticise the ultra-long-haul flights as less efficient than routes with two stops, such as via Almaty and Manila. Qantas acknowledges the challenges but sees the nonstop as a unique product with no competing airline showing interest in Europe-Australia nonstop services.
