Qantas is proceeding with its Project Sunrise strategy, which includes ultra-long-haul flights from Sydney to New York and Sydney to London, despite a significant increase in jet fuel costs. CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed that the business case for these flights has been re-evaluated and still projects an increase in profits of about A$400 million. This comes even as jet fuel prices have nearly doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, adding an extra A$610 million to the airline's annual fuel bill.
The Sydney to New York non-stop service is scheduled to launch in mid-2028, following the Sydney to London direct flights which are set to begin in October 2027. Qantas has ordered 12 specially adapted Airbus A350-1000s for these routes, which will include onboard wellness areas. Tickets for the Sydney-New York route are expected to go on sale in August 2027. The airline plans to charge a premium for these new direct routes compared to existing one-stop services.
Confidence in the Project Sunrise strategy is supported by the success of Qantas's existing Perth-London non-stop route, which has operated for over eight years and remains the strongest performing service. Hudson noted that the Middle East conflict has also generated increased demand for ultra-long-haul direct flights, as travelers seek to avoid routes passing through the Gulf. This demand, coupled with a willingness from customers to pay a premium for direct travel, is a key factor in the project's viability even with Brent crude near $100 per barrel.
The Sydney-New York flight is estimated to take around 18 hours, while the Sydney-London flight will be approximately 20 hours. These flights will be among the world's longest, with the current record held by Singapore Airlines' 19-hour New York-Singapore service. Qantas has also incorporated findings from sleep scientists to minimize jet lag for passengers on these marathon flights, including different lighting schemes.
