Qantas plans Project Sunrise flights from New York to Sydney in 2028 as part of its programme for exceptionally long journeys. The route is due to begin several months after the airline launches direct Sydney-to-London services.
Project Sunrise flights will take 18 hours from New York
Qantas expects the journey from New York to Sydney to last 18 hours.
The duration makes the expected travel time a central consideration for passengers. Travellers will need to weigh the convenience of completing the journey on one service against spending most of a day aboard the aircraft.
The Sydney-London journey will be four hours longer
Qantas says its direct flight from Sydney to London will take 22 hours, four hours longer than the planned New York service.
The London route is scheduled to begin first, with the New York departure following months later in 2028. This sequence makes Sydney-London the earlier milestone in the airline’s programme.
Travellers still need exact launch and booking details
For now, passengers can plan only around the broad 2028 window and the order in which the two routes will begin.
Qantas has not set out an exact launch date, operating schedule or fares for the New York service. Travellers should wait for those details before arranging connecting transport, accommodation or other bookings around the flight.
The main dates to watch are the start of direct Sydney-London operations and the New York launch several months later. Once schedules and prices become available, passengers can compare the new services with itineraries that include an intermediate stop.
