Qantas has announced plans to operate direct flights between Sydney and New York beginning in mid-2028, reducing journey time to approximately 18 hours. This service will mark the airline’s second ultra long-haul route under its Project Sunrise initiative, following scheduled Sydney-to-London flights planned for October 2027. The New York route will be the first commercial direct service between Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport and JFK Airport, displacing existing stopover flights through Los Angeles that require 21 hours and typically cost over $1,400 for one-way tickets.
Ticket sales for the New York route are set to commence in August 2027, though the airline has not yet specified the exact launch month for flight operations. Qantas has stated that direct fares may cost approximately 20% more than current stopover pricing, while noting upward pressure on overall ticket costs. The airline has not disclosed specific pricing for Project Sunrise routes.
The aircraft supporting these routes will be Airbus A350-1000ULRs equipped with additional fuel capacity, capable of flying over 16,000 kilometers nonstop for up to 22 hours. Qantas has ordered 12 of these aircraft, with the first delivery expected in April 2027. Each plane will feature a dedicated “wellbeing zone” positioned between economy and premium economy cabins, offering passengers space to exercise, access guided fitness videos, and consume complimentary refreshments. The aircraft will accommodate 238 passengers across various cabin configurations, including first-class suites, business suites, premium economy, and standard economy seating.
The Project Sunrise initiative experienced multiple delays, originally scheduled for 2022 before being postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent Airbus manufacturing delays. Qantas projects that these ultra long-haul flights will increase earnings by $400 million over the following five years, with profit margins expanding from current levels to 10%. The airline has indicated future plans to establish additional 20-hour direct routes from Perth while discontinuing previous aspirations for Brisbane and Melbourne services.
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