Qantas is preparing to unveil the first ultra-long-haul routes of the “Sunrise” project

Australian airline Qantas Airways is expected to announce on Wednesday the first destination of its future, world-longest non-stop flights, as part of its ambitious “Project Sunrise” program. This project aims to directly connect eastern Australia to cities such as London and New York.

Qantas aims to offer long-haul, non-stop flights, bypassing traditional hubs in the Middle East and Asia. These direct routes would be operated using specially adapted Airbus aircraft, capable of covering extreme distances with a limited number of passengers to preserve comfort and range.

According to available information, the initial routes under consideration could connect Sydney or Melbourne to London or New York. These ultra-long-haul flights represent some of the most complex technical challenges in commercial aviation, due to their exceptional duration, which can exceed 20 hours.

Initially launched in 2017, the project has been delayed several times due to technical, logistical, and pandemic-related constraints. Qantas now anticipates the first flights to begin service in late 2027, following a series of tests and adjustments.

The airline hopes to position itself in the high-end segment, attracting passengers willing to pay approximately 20% more than for flights with a layover in premium cabins. The challenge is to transform these extremely long journeys into a viable commercial product despite the high operating costs.

This new step marks a major advance in commercial aviation, as companies seek to push the boundaries of nonstop distance while responding to growing demand for more direct and faster journeys.