Qantas to launch non-stop Sydney-New York route in 2028

Qantas has revealed its plan to launch the highly anticipated, first non-stop service connecting Australia and the US city of New York during the middle of 2028.

While no specific launch date and flight schedule has been announced yet, Qantas stated ticket sales for the nonstop Sydney-New York flights will start from August 2027. Using specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, the ground-breaking flights will cut the travel time between the two cities by three hours compared to the current one-stop options including its current Sydney-Auckland-New York service.

Qantas reported Australia-US travel demand continues to grow, with inbound visitor arrivals from the US up 5% year-on-year. Demand to/from New York on its flights has doubled since 2023 with intent to book rising from 58% to 70% since February, and reaching 80% among premium travellers.

Project Sunrise Updates (September 2026)

New York is the second route confirmed to be a part of Qantas’ ultra-long haul initiative Project Sunrise after Sydney-London which will be launched in October 2027. For all Project Sunrise routes, the Australian airline plans to use 12 four-class 238-seat, Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft equipped with an additional 20,000 liter fuel tank. With the additional fuel tank, the aircraft will be able to fly more than 16,000 kilometers, and up to 22 hours non-stop.

Qantas reported the first test aircraft is in the final stages of its flight test program before it takes delivery of it in April 2027. The aircraft completed a record-breaking non-stop 24 hour, 24 minute flight from Melbourne to Toulouse. As pilots started training on Australia’s first A350 simulator in Sydney, the airline said more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew will be trained to operate the Project Sunrise aircraft by the time the 12^th and last A350-1000ULR is delivered.

“Flying these distances is only worth doing if our customers arrive feeling their best, and that belief has shaped everything we've built,” said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa 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."

Ahead of the ultra-long haul flights, Qantas has been building up its long-haul operations since 2018. The airline operates flights from Perth to Rome and Paris, while also operating Melbourne-Dallas and Auckland-New York flights.