Qantas announced plans to operate direct flights between Sydney and New York starting in mid-2028, representing the second route under its Project Sunrise expansion initiative. The service will reduce travel time to 18 hours, compared to the current 21-hour journey via Los Angeles stopover. Tickets are scheduled to begin sales in August 2027, though the airline has not yet disclosed specific pricing for the route.
The New York service follows planned Sydney to London direct flights scheduled for October 2027, which had previously experienced delays. The airline’s Project Sunrise program initially aimed for a 2022 launch but faced postponements due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent manufacturing delays from Airbus. Qantas has ordered 12 Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft equipped with extended fuel capacity and designed to operate flights exceeding 22 hours nonstop. The first aircraft is expected to arrive in April 2027, with a test model completing a 24-hour flight in July.
Each aircraft will accommodate 238 passengers across multiple cabin classes and will feature a dedicated wellbeing zone positioned between economy and premium economy sections. This zone will provide stretching space, guided exercise programming, and complimentary refreshments for passengers during extended flights. The airline plans to train over 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew members to operate the new aircraft fleet.
Qantas projects the Project Sunrise routes will generate approximately $400 million in additional earnings over the following five years, with profit margins expected to increase from the current 4% to 10%. The company cited rising demand for New York services, noting passenger numbers have doubled since 2023. The airline has also indicated plans for future 20-hour direct flights from Perth but discontinued previous proposals for routes from Brisbane or Melbourne.
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