Qantas Project Sunrise: New York Flight Set for 2028

Qantas Project Sunrise is moving closer to commercial reality, with Qantas confirming that nonstop flights between Sydney and New York will begin in mid-2028.

The planned service will take approximately 18 hours, cutting around three hours from the current fastest travel time while eliminating a connection. Tickets for the inaugural Sydney-New York service are expected to go on sale in August 2027. 

The New York route will become the second destination under Qantas’ ambitious Project Sunrise program. It follows the planned launch of daily nonstop flights between Sydney and London in October 2027.

For Qantas, the announcement marks another major step toward its long-standing goal of connecting Australia’s east coast directly with major cities in Europe and North America.

Qantas Project Sunrise Will Connect Sydney and New York

The new service will provide something passengers have never had before: a scheduled nonstop commercial flight between Sydney and New York.

At present, Qantas travelers generally need to make a connection during the journey. Depending on the itinerary, that can add several hours to an already lengthy trip.

Qantas says the new Project Sunrise service will take around 18 hours and reduce the current fastest travel time by approximately three hours. The flight will operate between Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

That change could make a significant difference for passengers traveling between Australia and the United States.

Instead of landing at another airport, collecting themselves during a connection and boarding another aircraft, travelers will remain aboard the same aircraft until reaching New York.

The airline has not yet announced the exact inaugural flight date.

However, Qantas has confirmed that tickets will be available from August 2027, ahead of the mid-2028 launch.

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Qantas Project Sunrise Uses an Ultra-Long-Range A350

The technology behind the route is Qantas’ specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR.

Qantas ordered 12 of the aircraft in May 2022. The planes are being prepared specifically for ultra-long-haul operations between Australia and destinations such as London and New York.

The aircraft will feature an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank, allowing it to travel more than 16,000 kilometers and remain airborne for up to 22 hours under appropriate operating conditions.

That capability is essential to Project Sunrise.

Traditional long-haul aircraft can cover enormous distances, but Sydney-to-New York and Sydney-to-London push the limits of commercial aviation. The specially configured A350 gives Qantas the range needed to operate these routes without a refueling stop.

The first Project Sunrise aircraft, named Vega, is expected to be delivered to Qantas in April 2027.

Qantas A350 Will Carry 238 Passengers

Qantas has designed its Project Sunrise aircraft around a relatively low passenger count.

Each aircraft will have 238 seats across four cabins:

• Six First Class suites
• 52 Business Class suites
• 40 Premium Economy seats
• 140 Economy seats

Qantas says the configuration has the lowest seat density of any A350-1000 currently in service. More than 40% of the seats are allocated to its premium cabins.

The approach reflects the unusual demands of an 18-to-22-hour flight.

Instead of maximizing passenger capacity, Qantas has prioritized space, privacy and features intended to make ultra-long-haul travel more manageable.

The aircraft will also introduce Qantas Economy Plus, with 42 seats positioned at the front of the economy cabin.

Those seats will have a 34-inch pitch, along with priority boarding and priority access to overhead lockers.

Qantas Project Sunrise Includes a Wellbeing Zone

One of the most distinctive features of the Project Sunrise aircraft is its dedicated Wellbeing Zone.

The area will sit between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins and will be accessible to passengers during the flight.

Qantas says the space will include integrated stretch handles, a guided movement program, a hydration station and refreshments.

The feature is designed specifically for the realities of ultra-long-haul travel.

Passengers on an 18-hour flight cannot realistically spend the entire journey in the same position. The Wellbeing Zone provides an alternative space where travelers can stand, move and stretch.

Qantas has also worked with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre and other specialists on elements of the aircraft’s cabin environment.

Lighting is another major component.

The A350 will use 12 lighting scenes, including settings called “Sunrise,” “Sunset” and “Awake,” designed around circadian-rhythm principles.

First Class and Business Class Get New Designs

The Project Sunrise A350 is also introducing redesigned premium cabins.

Qantas’ First Class cabin will contain six enclosed suites. Each includes a two-meter-long flat bed, a separate reclining armchair and space for dining or working.

Business Class will have 52 suites with sliding doors for greater privacy. Each suite includes an 80-inch flat bed, a dining table and additional storage.

These features are particularly relevant on flights lasting close to an entire day.

The aircraft also includes fast, free Wi-Fi across cabins and Bluetooth connectivity for passengers’ personal devices.

Qantas is therefore positioning Project Sunrise as more than a technical achievement.

The airline is attempting to create an onboard environment specifically designed for the demands of ultra-long-haul travel.

Sydney-London Will Come Before Sydney-New York

New York is the second confirmed Project Sunrise destination.

The first will be London.

Qantas plans to begin daily nonstop Sydney-London flights in October 2027, several months before the New York service.

The Sydney-London journey is expected to take roughly 19 to 22 hours, depending on operating conditions. Qantas says the nonstop service can reduce travel time by up to four hours compared with one-stop alternatives.

Tickets for Sydney-London are expected to go on sale in February 2027.

Sydney-New York tickets will follow later, with sales scheduled to begin in August 2027.

The two routes effectively represent the core of the Project Sunrise strategy that Qantas first announced in 2017.

Qantas Project Sunrise Has Been Years in Development

Project Sunrise is not a new idea.

Qantas announced its plans in 2017, setting out an ambition to operate direct flights from Australia’s east coast to London and New York.

The airline subsequently selected the Airbus A350-1000ULR and ordered 12 aircraft in 2022.

The project has taken years of aircraft development, testing and operational preparation.

The COVID-19 pandemic also disrupted the aviation industry’s plans, contributing to delays across major airline programs.

Now, the program has reached an important stage.

Qantas’ first Project Sunrise aircraft has already been involved in long-duration testing, while delivery and crew preparation are progressing toward the 2027 launch.

The airline’s corporate fleet plan identifies Sydney-London for 2027 and Sydney-New York from 2028 onward.

The Project Sunrise Aircraft Has Already Completed Long Tests

The first A350-1000ULR assigned to Project Sunrise has been undergoing flight testing.

In July 2026, the test aircraft completed a flight between Melbourne and Toulouse lasting more than 24 hours. The aircraft later returned to Toulouse as part of the ongoing testing program.

The test flights are important because commercial ultra-long-haul operations involve considerably more than simply having enough fuel.

Qantas and Airbus must validate aircraft performance, crew procedures and systems over extremely long periods.

The aircraft also requires the appropriate regulatory approvals and certifications before commercial service begins.

Qantas currently expects its first aircraft to arrive in April 2027.

That timeline gives the airline a relatively short period between aircraft delivery and the planned October 2027 Sydney-London launch.

Why New York Matters to Qantas

New York has been part of Qantas’ Project Sunrise vision since the beginning.

The city is one of the world’s major financial, cultural and business centers, while Australia and the United States have extensive travel links.

Qantas says demand for travel between Australia and the United States continues to grow. The airline has also reported that demand in and out of New York on Qantas has nearly doubled since 2023.

The airline says intent to book nonstop ultra-long-haul travel has also increased, particularly among premium travelers.

Those figures help explain why Qantas is committing one of its most specialized aircraft types to the route.

However, the commercial success of the service will ultimately depend on passenger demand, operating costs and the fares travelers are willing to pay.

An 18-Hour Flight Changes the Travel Equation

The biggest benefit of Qantas Project Sunrise is not simply the number of hours spent in the air.

It is the removal of a connection.

An 18-hour nonstop journey may sound extremely long. But a connecting itinerary can involve a shorter first flight, a layover and then another lengthy transpacific journey.

A nonstop service allows passengers to complete the journey on one aircraft.

That means no second security process, no connection gate and no uncertainty over a missed connecting flight.

For travelers with limited time, the difference could be particularly valuable.

The overall journey also becomes easier to plan because the flight has a single departure and arrival point.

Qantas Project Sunrise Could Change Long-Haul Aviation

Project Sunrise reflects a wider transformation in commercial aviation.

Newer aircraft are allowing airlines to connect cities that previously required one or more stops.

The Airbus A350 family is central to this trend because of its range, fuel efficiency and advanced cabin design.

Qantas is taking the concept further by creating a dedicated ultra-long-range configuration capable of flights approaching 22 hours.

The airline’s Project Sunrise fact sheet describes Sydney-London as a nonstop route beginning in October 2027 and Sydney-New York as the second route, with both services intended to operate alongside Qantas’ existing international network.

If the program performs as planned, it could provide an important reference point for future ultra-long-haul services.

Other airlines will continue to evaluate whether similar routes can attract enough passengers to justify their operational complexity.

When Can Travelers Book the Sydney-New York Flight?

Travelers will have to wait until next year to book the new nonstop service.

Qantas says tickets for the inaugural Sydney-New York flight will go on sale from August 2027.

The service itself is scheduled to begin in mid-2028.

Qantas has not yet provided an exact inaugural flight date.

It also has not announced the fares for the new route.

That means travelers cannot yet determine exactly how the nonstop option will compare financially with existing one-stop itineraries.

The eventual fare structure will be closely watched because ultra-long-haul flights require significant fuel and specialized aircraft.

What Happens Next?

Several milestones will take place before passengers board the first Sydney-New York Project Sunrise flight.

The first A350-1000ULR is expected to arrive in April 2027.

Qantas will then continue aircraft preparation, crew training and operational testing before the Sydney-London service begins in October 2027.

The New York service is scheduled for mid-2028, giving the airline additional time to expand the Project Sunrise operation.

The program will ultimately involve 12 specially configured A350-1000ULRs.

Qantas will also have to manage the practical challenges of operating flights that can last close to a full day, including crew scheduling, maintenance and passenger-service procedures.

Qantas Project Sunrise Marks a New Era for Sydney-New York Travel

Qantas Project Sunrise is turning a long-standing aviation ambition into a scheduled service.

From mid-2028, passengers are expected to be able to fly directly from Sydney to New York in approximately 18 hours.

The service will use a specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR with an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank, 238 seats and a cabin designed around the demands of ultra-long-haul travel.

Before that happens, Qantas will launch daily nonstop Sydney-London flights in October 2027.

The two routes will represent the most visible results of a Project Sunrise program that has been in development since 2017.

For passengers, the attraction is straightforward: fewer connections and shorter overall journey times.

For Qantas, the project is a major test of whether ultra-long-haul nonstop flying can combine technological capability with sustainable passenger demand.

If the schedule remains on track, the first Sydney-New York passengers will board in Australia in 2028 and arrive in New York roughly 18 hours later — without stopping once.