Qantas to Start Selling Tickets Next Year for New York-Sydney Nonstop Flight

Qantas Airways is preparing to open bookings for its highly anticipated nonstop Sydney-New York service, with tickets expected to go on sale in August 2027 ahead of the route’s planned launch in mid-2028.

The new service will be part of Qantas' Project Sunrise programme and will become the airline's second ultra-long-haul route after Sydney-London flights begin in October 2027. The Sydney-New York journey is expected to take around 18 hours, cutting roughly three hours from the fastest current one-stop travel options.

First Nonstop Commercial Link Between Sydney and New York

The planned route will create the first nonstop commercial service between Sydney and New York, connecting Australia's largest city directly with New York's JFK Airport.

Qantas currently operates Sydney-New York flights with a stop, including services via Auckland. The new nonstop option is expected to significantly reduce total journey time while eliminating the need for passengers to change aircraft during the trip.

Qantas has not yet announced fares for the new route, although the airline has previously indicated that ultra-long-haul flights are likely to carry a premium because of their specialised aircraft and operating requirements.

Project Sunrise Aircraft Will Power the Route

The Sydney-New York service will be operated using specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft.

Qantas has ordered 12 of the ultra-long-range aircraft, each fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank. The aircraft are designed to fly more than 16,000 kilometres and remain airborne for as long as 22 hours without stopping.

The aircraft will have a relatively small 238-seat, four-class configuration, allowing Qantas to provide more space and amenities for passengers during journeys that can last most of a day.

London Route Comes First

Before New York joins the Project Sunrise network, Qantas will launch its first east-coast Australian ultra-long-haul service to London in October 2027.

Tickets for the Sydney-London route are scheduled to go on sale in February 2027, several months ahead of its launch. Qantas says the nonstop London journey will cut up to four hours from current one-stop travel times.

The London route will also provide Qantas with valuable operational experience before the airline adds New York to the programme.

Demand for Sydney-New York Travel Is Growing

Qantas says demand for travel between Australia and the United States has continued to increase.

The airline reported that U.S. visitor arrivals to Australia are up 5% year over year, while demand for travel between Sydney and New York on Qantas has nearly doubled since 2023. Interest in ultra-long-haul travel has also increased, with intent to book such flights rising from 58% to 70% since February 2026, according to the airline.

The strong demand is a key part of Qantas' case for operating a route that requires specialised aircraft and significantly higher fuel consumption than shorter international services.

New Aircraft Undergo Extensive Testing

Qantas' first Project Sunrise A350 is currently completing its flight-test programme before entering commercial service.

The aircraft recently completed a 24-hour, 24-minute nonstop flight from Melbourne to Toulouse, which Qantas described as the longest flight by a commercial airliner to date. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered to Qantas in April 2027.

Qantas is also preparing its crews for the demanding flights. More than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew are expected to be trained for the Project Sunrise fleet as the 12 aircraft are delivered.

An 18-Hour Flight With a Different Experience

Qantas is designing the Project Sunrise aircraft specifically around passenger comfort during extremely long journeys.

The smaller seating configuration compared with a conventional A350 creates additional room across the cabin. The airline is also planning dedicated wellness features and services designed to help passengers manage the physical effects of spending nearly a full day in the air.

The objective is to make the nonstop journey competitive not only on travel time but also on the overall passenger experience.

Qantas Expands Its Ultra-Long-Haul Strategy

The New York route is part of a much larger transformation of Qantas' international fleet.

The airline is investing in A350-1000ULRs, A350-1000LRs, Boeing 787-9s and 787-10s as it replaces older aircraft and opens new long-distance routes. Project Sunrise is intended to connect Australia's east coast directly with major international cities that have traditionally required a stopover.

Qantas has also indicated that additional ultra-long-haul destinations could be considered in the future, particularly from Perth.

Bookings Begin in August 2027

For travellers hoping to experience the new route, the key date is August 2027, when Qantas plans to begin selling tickets for the Sydney-New York service.

Flights themselves are scheduled to begin in mid-2028, subject to aircraft certification and regulatory approvals. The exact launch date and ticket prices have not yet been announced.

The launch will mark another major milestone for Qantas' Project Sunrise programme and could fundamentally change the way Australians travel to the United States.

For passengers, the promise is simple: Sydney to New York without a stop, in around 18 hours, a journey that once seemed impractical but is now moving steadily toward reality.

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