Qantas to launch direct Sydney-New York flights in 2028

Qantas has confirmed that its Project Sunrise initiative will include a direct flight route between Sydney and New York, scheduled to begin in mid-2028. This service will mark the first time a non-stop commercial connection has existed between these two cities, reducing travel time by more than three hours compared to current routes that typically include stops in locations such as Auckland.

The flights will be operated using the Airbus A350-1000ULR, an aircraft specifically modified with an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank to enable flight durations of up to 22 hours. The journey from Sydney to New York is expected to take approximately 18 hours. Each aircraft will feature 238 seats across four cabin classes: six first-class suites, 52 business class seats, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 standard economy seats.

Tickets for the Sydney-New York route are expected to go on sale in August 2027. This follows the airline's first confirmed Project Sunrise route between Sydney and London, which is slated to commence operations in October 2027.