New Yorkers who complain about a six-hour hop to the West Coast may want to sit down for this one: Qantas is aiming to launch a roughly 22-hour nonstop between Sydney and JFK in 2027, a marathon route that would instantly rank among the world’s longest commercial flights.
The carrier plans to use specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR jets for the epic trek, trimming hours off today’s one-stop itineraries and turning Australia-to-New York into a single, very long sit.
New jets, tight timeline
According to Qantas, the first A350-1000ULR tied to its Project Sunrise initiative is already on Airbus’s final assembly line. The airline expects delivery in late 2026, with commercial service targeted for the first half of 2027.
The aircraft is being built for endurance. Qantas says the jets will be able to stay in the air for up to 22 hours nonstop, helped by an extra 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank and systems that are tuned with passenger wellbeing in mind.
Life inside a 22-hour flight
The Project Sunrise layout will be far roomier than a typical long-haul widebody. As reported by Forbes, each A350 will carry only 238 passengers across four cabins: six First suites, 52 Business suites, 40 Premium Economy seats and 140 Economy seats.
To keep people sane and at least somewhat limber after nearly a full day in the sky, Qantas is installing a purpose-built mid-cabin "Wellbeing Zone." Highlighted by Air Data News, the area will feature stretch handles, guided on-screen exercises and a hydration station, all designed to blunt the worst of ultra-long-haul fatigue.
Testing ramps up in Europe
The first A350-1000ULR for Qantas has already rolled out of the final assembly line in Toulouse and moved into ground-testing as part of its certification program. Aviation outlets report that the jet will proceed to flight tests in 2026, a key prerequisite before it can be handed over to the airline.
Airlive notes that those test campaigns will pave the way for delivery and the eventual start of commercial operations on routes like the Sydney to JFK nonstop.
What it means in New York
For New Yorkers, a nonstop Sydney to JFK link would be more than a novelty. Local coverage has described the plan as a roughly 10,000-mile, 22-hour connection that could reset expectations for East Coast long-haul travel and make Australia feel a lot closer, at least on paper.
The local angle was detailed by the Brooklyn Eagle, which pointed to how the proposed service might affect operations at JFK and ripple into surrounding Queens and Brooklyn communities that already live with heavy air traffic.
Regulators, training and the road to 2027
For all the fanfare, tickets are not on sale yet. Before passengers can buckle in for a 22-hour sprint between Sydney and New York, Qantas still needs to clear certification, complete crew training and secure regulatory approvals that cover everything from ultra-long-haul duty times to onboard service protocols.
Travel Weekly and other industry outlets say rollout of the first A350 means Project Sunrise is moving from concept into execution, even if the airline is keeping exact schedules and sale dates under wraps for now.
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