Qantas announced on September 23, 2026, that nonstop flights from Sydney to New York will begin in mid-2028, using a specially configured Airbus A350-1000 with a 22-hour flight time and premium cabin features to combat jet lag.
The airline made the announcement at a cocktail reception in New York on Tuesday evening (US time), as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Qantas has set a 2028 launch date for its first nonstop flights between Sydney and New York, marking a significant expansion of its ultra-long-haul network. The route will take about 18 hours, which puts it close to what is currently the world’s longest flight, according to Source 2. The route that has that designation right now, nonstop service on Singapore Airlines from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Singapore, can top 19 hours. But Qantas is set to take the crown next fall when it debuts nonstops between London Heathrow and Sydney that take about 20 hours, as noted in Source 2.
Qantas gives 2028 start date for Sydney-New York non-stop
The airline will operate the route using a modified Airbus A350-1000, equipped with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank to enable the 16,000-kilometer journey, which will take up to 22 hours, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The A350-1000 will carry 238 passengers across four cabins, including 40 premium economy seats, 140 economy seats, 52 business suites, and six first-class suites. The aircraft’s design includes a wellness zone for mid-flight movement and a lighting system tailored to minimize jet lag, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson emphasized the airline’s focus on passenger comfort, stating, Conquering the tyranny of distance has been part of who Qantas is from the very beginning.
The route will follow the launch of Sydney-to-London flights in October 2027, with New York chosen as a second destination due to its “sleeping giant” potential for premium travel, according to finance chief Rob Marcolina. The north-east of the US is a sleeping giant,
he said in June, as noted by the Sydney Morning Herald. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson highlighted the demand for direct routes, citing the success of its Perth-to-London service, which has attracted premium travelers willing to pay for nonstop travel. What we have been able to learn from that is that there is absolutely a customer who wants this and is prepared to pay a premium for it,
she told CNBC. The New York route will compete with Singapore Airlines’ 19-hour New York-to-Singapore flight, though Qantas’ Sydney-to-London service, set to take 20 hours, will hold the title of the world’s longest flight when it launches next fall.
The airline plans to take delivery of 12 of the A350-1000ULR aircraft, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered to the airline by April 2027. Tickets for the New York route will go on sale in August next year, as announced by Qantas during a New York event, per the Sydney Morning Herald. The move aligns with Qantas’ Project Sunrise initiative, which has already seen almost two million passengers fly on non-stop long-haul services from Perth to London, Rome and Paris since 2018. The airline also flies directly between Melbourne and Dallas Fort Worth, where demand has held up despite steep rise in airfares this year following the escalation of hostilities in Iran, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Qantas nonstop flight from Sydney to New York goes
The specially fitted Airbus, still in its primary paint colours, completed a milestone in July on its road to certification by authorities after completing what appeared to be a record-breaking 24-hour-24-second non-stop flight from Melbourne to Toulouse, France, as reported in Source 1. This flight was a key step in the aircraft’s certification process. Qantas finance chief Rob Marcolina noted that the north-east of the US is a “sleeping giant” for premium travel to Australia, which can be tapped with the help of Project Sunrise flights. The airline’s focus on wellness and cabin innovation, including David Caon-designed first-class suites, positions it to differentiate from competitors like Singapore Airlines, which operates its New York to Singapore flight with only business class and premium economy seats, as noted by CNBC.
Qantas’ success will depend on maintaining demand for premium travel, particularly as airfares rise amid global tensions. The airline’s existing nonstop services, such as Melbourne and Dallas Fort Worth, have shown resilience despite higher prices, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. With the New York route set to launch amid growing competition, Qantas aims to solidify its reputation as a leader in long-range, high-service aviation. The airline also emphasized that the New York route will follow the start of direct flights between Sydney and London in October 2027, as stated in Source 1.
Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra. Chris Zappone is a senior reporter covering aviation and business. He is former digital foreign editor. Both are cited in the source material for their roles in reporting on the Qantas announcement.