Qantas Plans Ultra-Long Flights from Sydney to London and New York

Qantas has developed a plan to operate direct flights from Sydney to London and New York that exceed 18,000 kilometres. The airline expects the service to begin in October 2027 after tickets go on sale in February 2027. The carrier forecasts $400 million in annual earnings from a fleet of 12 Airbus A350-1000 ULR aircraft once operations are fully established within two and a half years.

The planes will carry an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank that extends range by 1,300 kilometres.

The first A350-1000 ULR aircraft is eight weeks into testing and certification. A second aircraft has left the assembly line but still requires interior installation and Rolls-Royce engines. Airbus announced in May that delivery of the first aircraft would be delayed until next year, following earlier postponements to 2025 and 2026.

An Airbus official stated that the delays resulted from certification processes outside the manufacturer's control.

The airline will use its Constellation flight-planning system to select routes that account for wind patterns, weather, and airspace restrictions. Planes departing Sydney can fly either east or west depending on seasonal winds. The chief executive told journalists at the Airbus factory in Toulouse that few other carriers have a comparable business case for 12 such aircraft.

Demand for premium long-haul travel has remained strong despite cost-of-living pressures and recent Middle East disruptions. Passengers have shown increased interest in point-to-point flights that avoid intermediate stops, according to the chief executive.