Qantas confirms Sydney-New York non-stop as second Project Sunrise route

Qantas has confirmed that Sydney to New York will be its second Project Sunrise non-stop route. The service will launch in mid-2028, the carrier says, with tickets on sale from August 2027.

The route links Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport with John F. Kennedy Airport. Qantas expects a flight time of about 18 hours, roughly three hours less than the fastest current option. Demand into and out of New York on its services has almost doubled since 2023, according to the airline.

London Heathrow was previously named as the first Project Sunrise destination, scheduled to begin in October 2027 with a flight time of about 20 hours. Some had speculated that New York would take the launch slot instead.

Twelve Airbus A350-1000ULRs have been ordered for the programme. Qantas describes the aircraft as bespoke, fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank that allows flights of more than 16,000 kilometres and up to 22 hours without stopping.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said reaching New York non-stop completes a vision the airline set out years ago, and credited staff who have worked on the project. She said the service will cut around three hours from the journey.

The group already operates non-stop flights on several long sectors, including Perth to London, Rome and Paris, Melbourne to Dallas, and Auckland to New York, a practice it has followed since 2018.

Schedules, cabin configuration and pricing were not included in the announcement.