Qantas Airlines is set to launch the world's longest non-stop commercial flight from the UK, with the first route taking off in October 2027. The direct service between London Heathrow and Sydney will last approximately 22 hours, with an expected actual flight time of around 20 hours. Passengers on board will see two sunrises during the journey.
Project Sunrise details
Dubbed 'Project Sunrise', the new flight will be the first direct route to Sydney from the UK. Currently, the world's longest commercial flight is operated by Singapore Airlines between Singapore and New York, with an approximate flight time of 18 hours and 50 minutes. Qantas already operates a 17-18 hour flight between London and Perth, Australia, which is the longest direct flight from the UK.
Aircraft and testing
To handle the distance, the airline has ordered 12 new Airbus A350s, specifically manufactured for the project. Each plane will hold around 238 seats across four cabins. The first test flight on the A350-1000ULR took off from Toulouse, where the planes are being manufactured, and landed in Melbourne. Two Qantas pilots joined the test crew on board the plane, which has been named Vega. Qantas is expected to take delivery of the aircraft by April 2027.
Tickets and future routes
Tickets for the new route are expected to go on sale in February 2027, though prices have not yet been indicated. There are also plans to roll out a new route between Sydney and New York on the aircraft, but no confirmed launch date has been announced. At present, there are no direct flights between Sydney and London; Qantas offers a flight with a stopover in Singapore, creating a total journey time of about 25 hours. The airline claims the new A350 route could ultimately save passengers "up to four hours" of travel time compared with that route.
