Qantas revealed its second ultra long-haul route as part of Project Sunrise, establishing direct service between Sydney and New York beginning in mid-2028. The airline stated that tickets for this route will go on sale in August 2027. This represents the first commercial direct flight from Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith airport to New York’s JFK airport, following the planned launch of Sydney to London service in October 2027.
The 18-hour journey would significantly shorten travel compared to Qantas’s existing stopover service through Los Angeles, which takes 21 hours. Currently, one-way fares on the stopover route exceed $1,400, with return fares surpassing $1,900. The airline has indicated that direct flight tickets may cost approximately 20% more than stopover fares, though specific pricing has not been disclosed. Qantas noted that ticket prices face upward pressure across its network.
The carrier operates a fleet of 12 Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft specifically configured for these ultra long-haul routes, with the first delivery expected in April 2027. The aircraft are equipped with extra fuel capacity enabling flights of up to 22 hours nonstop. Each plane features a “wellbeing zone” positioned between economy and premium economy cabins where passengers can exercise, access guided workout videos, and consume complimentary snacks and beverages. The A350-1000ULR accommodates 238 passengers across various classes: six first-class suites, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats.
Qantas projects that Project Sunrise flights and sustained premium travel demand will generate $400 million in additional earnings over five years, with profit margins expected to expand from the current 4% to 10%. The airline noted that demand for flights to and from New York has doubled since 2023. Qantas indicated plans to eventually offer additional 20-hour direct routes from Perth, while previously discussed services from Brisbane and Melbourne have been abandoned. The company is training more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew members to operate the aircraft fleet.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI