Qantas has confirmed it will launch non-stop flights between Sydney and New York from mid-2028, ordering 12 new ultra-long-haul aircraft as part of an expanded Project Sunrise program that will fundamentally reshape how Australians travel to the United States.

The landmark route, covering roughly 16,000 kilometres, will take approximately 18 hours — cutting more than three hours off the fastest current travel time between the two cities, which requires a stopover in Auckland. Tickets are expected to go on sale from August 2027.

Project Sunrise Expands Beyond London

The New York announcement builds on Qantas' already-confirmed non-stop Sydney to London service, which is scheduled to begin in October 2027. Together, the two routes represent the full realisation of Project Sunrise — the airline's long-running ambition to connect Australia directly to the world's major cities without a stopover.

The program has already achieved a significant milestone, with a Project Sunrise test aircraft recently completing a record-breaking 24-hour and 24-minute non-stop flight from Melbourne to Toulouse, demonstrating the aircraft's extraordinary endurance capabilities.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the New York service represented years of determined effort coming to fruition.

"Conquering the tyranny of distance has been part of who Qantas is from the very beginning," she said. "Reaching New York non-stop completes a vision we set out many years ago, and it's a moment of enormous pride for the thousands of our people who have been working hard to make Project Sunrise a reality."

The Aircraft Behind the Sydney to New York Route

The Sydney–New York flights will be operated using specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft — a variant engineered specifically for ultra-long-haul travel, capable of flying more than 16,000 kilometres without refuelling. Qantas has placed orders for 12 of these aircraft, with the first expected to be delivered in April next year.

Each aircraft will be configured with 238 seats across four cabin classes, catering to travellers across the market from economy through to premium. To operate the Project Sunrise fleet, the airline will train more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew members.

A Historic Connection, Now Direct

Qantas first connected Sydney and New York back in 1958, though the journey at that time required multiple stops along the way. Hudson noted the significance of completing that connection in a single, unbroken flight for the first time.

"New York has always captured the imagination and, for generations, reaching it from Australia has meant breaking up the journey somewhere along the way," she said. "From 2028, our customers will be able to board in Sydney and arrive in New York about 18 hours later without stopping once."

Hudson added that the new route would change what is possible for travel between the two countries — not just for leisure travellers, but for business and cultural exchange more broadly.

What Travellers Can Expect and When

  • Route launch: Mid-2028
  • Tickets on sale: From August 2027
  • Flight duration: Approximately 18 hours
  • Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000ULR, 238 seats across four cabins
  • Fleet size: 12 aircraft ordered; first delivery expected April 2027
  • Crew training: 360+ pilots and 1,200+ cabin crew

With tickets going on sale more than a year before the first scheduled departure, Australians keen to be among the first to fly direct to New York will need to keep an eye out from mid-2027 onwards.