Qantas to launch world-first non-stop services between Sydney and London from October 2027

Qantas will launch its world-first non-stop services between Sydney and London from October 2027, the first time the Kangaroo Route has ever been flown without stops from Australia's east coast.

Route & Aircraft
- Launching October 2027, the first-ever non-stop Kangaroo Route from Australia’s east coast to London.
- Operated by the Airbus A350-1000ULR, specially built with an extra 20,000-litre fuel tank.
- Range: 16,000+ km, flight time up to 22 hours non-stop.
- Fleet: 12 aircraft, each with 238 seats across four cabins.

Travel Impact
- Cuts up to 4 hours compared to current one-stop services.
- Daily non-stop services will complement existing Perth–London and Sydney–Singapore–London routes.
- Tickets go on sale February 2027.

Strategic Significance
- Marks the final frontier of long-haul aviation, fulfilling Qantas’ 2017 promise to connect Sydney directly to London.
- Builds on Qantas’ ultra long-haul success with Perth–London, Rome, Paris and Melbourne–Dallas, Auckland–New York routes.
- Part of Qantas’ Flight Plan 2030, reshaping global connectivity.

Leadership & Government Voices
- Vanessa Hudson (Qantas CEO): “Today, we’re taking out the last stop.”
- Australian Trade & Tourism Minister Don Farrell: Highlights comfort, speed, and stronger ties with the UK.
- UK Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock: Calls it a “historic moment” and a vote of confidence in the UK’s role as a global hub.

Customer Demand
- Research shows 70% of Australians intend to book ultra long-haul non-stop flights (up from 58%).
- Among premium travellers, intent rises to 80%.
- Qantas’ existing non-stop routes already record the highest satisfaction scores in its international network.

Crew & Training
- 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew will be trained for Project Sunrise.
- Pilots already training on A350 simulators in Sydney and with partner airlines (British Airways, Cathay Pacific).

Future Expansion
- After Sydney–London, Sydney–New York will be the next Project Sunrise route.
- More destinations from Australia’s east coast will follow.

This is a historic leap in aviation, essentially erasing the last barrier of distance between Australia and Europe.