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Qantas’ non-stop Project Sunrise flights to New York will commence in mid-2028, the airline has announced.
Tickets for the 18-hour flights from Sydney to the Big Apple will go on sale in August next year, following the launch of the inaugural Project Sunrise services from Sydney to London in October 2027. It comes as flight tests continue on the first A350-1000ULR aircraft slated for Project Sunrise.
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“Demand for travel between Australia and the United States continues to grow, with visitor arrivals from the US up five per cent year-on-year,” said Qantas in a press release.
“Demand in and out of New York on Qantas has nearly doubled since 2023 and the appetite for non-stop, ultra long-haul flying has also continued to grow, with intent to book rising from 58 to 70 per cent since February this year, and reaching 80 per cent among premium travellers.”
Qantas’ test aircraft, MSN707, broke distance records on its return trial journey from Melbourne to Toulouse this year, with Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson saying conquering the tyranny of distance “has been part of who Qantas is from the very beginning”.
“Reaching New York non-stop completes a vision we set out many years ago, and it’s a moment of enormous pride for the thousands of our people who have been working hard to make Project Sunrise a reality.
“New York has always captured the imagination, and for generations, reaching it from Australia has meant breaking up the journey somewhere along the way.
“From 2028, our customers will be able to board in Sydney and arrive in New York around 18 hours later without stopping once, cutting around three hours off the current fastest travel time. That changes what’s possible for travel between our two countries.”
The Project Sunrise aircraft will carry just 238 seats, including six in first-class, 52 in business, 40 in premium economy, and 140 in economy, including Economy Plus.
The aircraft will also include the “Wellbeing Zone” accessible to all passengers, and a new entertainment system with an on-screen “journey planner”, viewing history, movie sharing functionality, and high-speed wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
“Flying these distances is only worth doing if our customers arrive feeling their best, and that belief has shaped everything we’ve built,” said Hudson.
“Over the past decade, working alongside experts, we’ve designed the aircraft and the onboard experience around the science of ultra long-haul travel, from the lighting to the meals to a world-first Wellbeing Zone. This is a fundamentally different way to fly.”
The first Project Sunrise aircraft is expected to be delivered in April, with further test and training flights to be carried out following its arrival.
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