Qantas has officially locked in the launch details for its highly anticipated Project Sunrise, ushering in a historic new era of commercial aviation with non-stop flights connecting Sydney and London.
TOULOUSE, France — At a joint press conference held today in Toulouse, France, executives from the Australian flag carrier and aerospace giant Airbus gathered to unveil the first Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) sporting its full iconic Qantas livery.
Countdown to Launch
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed that the historic maiden commercial flight from Sydney to London will depart in October 2027. Travelers eager to secure a seat on the record-breaking route will not have to wait long, as tickets are scheduled to go on sale in February 2027.
The direct service will slash up to four hours off current travel times by completely bypassing traditional transit hubs. Hudson emphasized that these ultra-long-haul flights will complement, rather than replace, Qantas’s existing network, operating alongside the current Perth-London direct flights and the traditional Sydney-Singapore-London transit services.
Engineering the 22-Hour Flight
The flagship aircraft responsible for the route is currently undergoing rigorous testing in France. The first A350-1000ULR successfully completed its maiden test flight on June 2, 2026, while a second airframe is currently progressing through an intensive eight-week testing and certification program.
To conquer the tyranny of distance, Airbus specially re-engineered the standard A350 layout for Project Sunrise:
- Extended Fuel Capacity: Fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank, allowing a maximum range of over 16,000 kilometers and up to 22 hours of continuous flight.
- Premium Cabin Focus: To maximize passenger comfort during nearly a day in the air, the aircraft will carry just 238 passengers across four highly spaced cabins—a massive reduction from the typical 350-plus seat configurations used by other airlines on this aircraft type.
Qantas has ordered a total fleet of 12 Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft to support the rollout of its direct European and US flight strategies over the coming years.
