And the winner is London: Project Sunrise to launch October 2027

It comes as the A350-1000ULR undergoes flight testing in France, with deliveries expected early next year after supply chain issues caused delays at Airbus.

“Qantas was built on the belief that Australia’s distance from the rest of the world should never stand in the way. The pioneering spirit of generations of our people has forged that path ever since, and today is the most significant step in that mission in our 105-year history,” said Hudson.

“Since we first flew the Kangaroo Route in 1947, where we stopped seven times on the way to London, every generation of aircraft has taken a stop out of the journey. Today, we’re taking out the last one.

“We made a commitment in 2017 that Qantas would conquer the final frontier of long-haul aviation and connect Australia’s east coast directly to London, something that has never before been possible. From October 2027, that promise becomes reality.”

The 22-hour Sydney-London services will cut up to four hours off the current travel time, with non-stop flights to operate alongside existing services via Perth and via Singapore.

According to research commissioned by Qantas, Australians’ interest in non-stop ultra-long-haul flights “continues to grow”, with intent to book growing from 58 to 70 per cent since February, and that figure climbing to 80 per cent among business travellers.

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“Since 2018, more than 1.7 million passengers have flown on Qantas’ non-stop long-haul services from Perth to London, Rome and Paris, and its Melbourne to Dallas and Auckland to New York services, with these routes recording the highest customer satisfaction scores on the airline’s international network,” the airline said.

“Daily non-stop services between Sydney and London from late 2027 will significantly expand travel options for customers across Australia travelling to the UK and Europe.”

The news has been welcomed by both the Australia and UK governments, with Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator Don Farrell saying Project Sunrise will make the Sydney-London route “more comfortable, quicker and easier”.

“This is a significant milestone for aviation and tourism in both Australia and the UK and a demonstration of the strong friendship between our two nations,” he said.

“Australia is a world class tourism destination and the new direct route launched by Qantas will help bring more people to our shores to experience the best we have to offer.”

UK Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock called the move a “historic moment” for British aviation and tourism, as well as for passengers.

“Qantas’ decision to make London the first destination for Project Sunrise is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK as a hub for global tourism, and a reflection of the deep ties between our two countries,” she said.

“Today marks a new phase of this role, opening up new opportunities for businesses, tourism, and the people who make both possible across Australia and the UK.”

Around 40 Qantas A330 pilots are currently training for the A350 alongside their existing duties, with more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew to be trained to operate the 12 specially-designed A350-1000ULRs by the time the final aircraft arrives.