Qantas sets 2028 launch for first-ever nonstop commercial flights between NYC and Sydney
NEW YORK -- A first-of-its-kind flight offering is coming to air travelers beginning in 2028... but be prepared for a long haul.
Qantas announced Tuesday that it is launching nonstop flights between Sydney and New York City starting in mid-2028, as part of Project Sunrise, making it the first-ever nonstop commercial service between Australia and the Big Apple.
The 18-hour flight will cut three hours off travel to and from Australia.
Flights will be operated on an Airbus A350-1000 with an extra 20,000-liter fuel tank that allows the aircraft to fly more than 16,000 kilometers, nearly 10,000 miles, and up to 22 hours non-stop.
Qantas will take delivery of 12 aircraft in total, with each offering 238 seats across four cabins.
New York is the second Project Sunrise route to be confirmed, following the Sydney to London non-stop flights that begin in October 2027.
"Conquering the tyranny of distance has been part of who Qantas is from the very beginning," Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said. "Reaching New York nonstop 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."
Tickets will go on sale in August 2027.
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