Qantas will introduce non‑stop flights between Sydney and New York from mid‑2028. The new route forms a key part of Project Sunrise, Qantas’ long‑range program designed to connect Australia with major global hubs in a single hop.
Tickets for the inaugural flight will go on sale in August 2027. The ultra‑long‑haul service will cut more than three hours off current one‑stop travel times. That’s a faster, more seamless way to reach New York from Australia’s east coast.
A New Era of Direct Travel
New York becomes the second confirmed Project Sunrise destination, following the Sydney–London non‑stop route launching in October 2027. This expansion continues Qantas’ long history with New York, which began in 1958 when the airline first reached the city via Fiji, Honolulu and San Francisco. Right now, Qantas operates a daily one‑stop service via Auckland.
The Aircraft Behind the Mission
As we’ve written about before, the flights will use specially configured Airbus A350‑1000ULR aircraft. These jets feature:
- An extra 20,000‑litre fuel tank
- A range of over 16,000 km
- Up to 22 hours of non‑stop flying
- 238 seats across four cabins
Qantas will take delivery of 12 aircraft, with the first arriving in April next year. The test aircraft recently completed a record‑breaking 24‑hour, 24‑minute flight from Melbourne to Toulouse
Rising Demand for Ultra‑Long‑Haul Travel
Travel between Australia and the United States continues to grow. Visitor arrivals from the US are up five per cent year‑on‑year. Furthermore, demand for Qantas flights in and out of New York has nearly doubled since 2023. Interest in ultra‑long‑haul flying is also rising, with booking intent jumping from 58% to 70% this year. For premium travellers, that has even been as high as 80%.
Since 2018, almost two million passengers have flown on Qantas’ non‑stop routes from Perth to London, Rome and Paris, plus Melbourne to Dallas and Auckland to New York. These flights consistently achieve the airline’s highest satisfaction scores.
What This Means for Travellers
The new Sydney–New York service will significantly expand travel options between Australia and the US. Travellers will enjoy:
- A faster journey
- A single boarding point
- A smoother arrival experience
- A cabin designed around ultra‑long‑haul wellbeing
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson on the Milestone
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson says adding New York to Project Sunrise marks a defining moment for both nations:
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.
Final Words
It’s not exactly a surprise that Qantas had Sydney-New York in its sights. They have mentioned it before. What this announcement does is place a timeline on when it will happen.
This is obviously taking into account deliveries of the aircraft from Airbus. That is, when they have sufficient aircraft to operate this route and the Sydney-London route at the same time. Interestingly, they had previously hinted at a late 2027 start to the route, although that seems to have slipped.
