Qantas Airways announced plans to launch the first nonstop commercial flight between New York and Sydney by mid-2028, marking the second route under its Project Sunrise initiative. The 18-hour journeys will utilize Airbus A350-1000 ULR jets, capable of 22-hour flights, with the first delivery scheduled for April 2027. Qantas already plans to begin Sydney-London nonstop service in October 2027, which will become the longest commercial passenger service at 22 hours.

Vanessa Hudson, Qantas chief executive, stated customers are willing to pay a premium for nonstop travel, noting the London-Perth route is already the airline's best performing route. The new jets will feature 238 seats across four cabins, with premium seating comprising 40 percent of the configuration. Tickets for the Sydney-London route will go on sale in February, followed by the Sydney-New York route in August.

Qantas is currently awaiting delivery of 12 ordered aircraft, with full fleet rollout expected to take over two and a half years. The airline previously completed a 24-hour test flight from Melbourne to Toulouse in July. Hudson reiterated that Melbourne remains a priority for future Project Sunrise routes, though deliveries will progress progressively as new jets arrive.