Qantas Will Fly Sydney to New York Nonstop From Mid-2028: What Travelers Need to Know

Qantas will launch the first-ever nonstop flights between Sydney and New York (JFK) in mid-2028, with tickets going on sale in August 2027. The 9,950-mile route will run on specially built Airbus A350-1000ULR jets and cut roughly three hours off today's fastest one-stop trip, making it the second-longest scheduled flight in the world.

What Qantas announced

Route: Sydney (SYD) – New York (JFK) · Launch: mid-2028 · Tickets on sale: August 2027

Qantas confirmed New York as the second Project Sunrise destination on September 23, following Sydney–London nonstops that start in October 2027. CEO Vanessa Hudson said passengers will "arrive in New York around 18 hours later without stopping once," according to Business Travel Executive.

The airline will start the route once it has five A350-1000ULRs in hand: two to fly each route plus a spare, as One Mile at a Time explains.

How long the flight will take

Distance: 9,950 miles · Eastbound (SYD–JFK): ~18 hours · Westbound (JFK–SYD): ~20 hours

That makes it the world's second-longest route after Qantas's own 10,573-mile Sydney–London flight, and longer than Singapore Airlines' current record-holding Singapore–New York service. The aircraft carry an extra 20,000-liter fuel tank that gives up to 22 hours of range, ABC7 New York reports. For context on how Singapore Airlines runs its ultra-long-haul flights, see our look at why Singapore Airlines was named the world's best airline for 2026.

Inside the A350-1000ULR cabin

Total seats: 238 · First: 6 · Business: 52 · Premium economy: 40 · Economy: 140

A standard A350-1000 typically seats 300 or more, so Qantas is trading capacity for space. Economy gets 32–34 inches of pitch, business and first suites have doors, a "Wellbeing Zone" gives passengers room to stretch, and Wi-Fi will be free. You can check the layout on AeroLOPA's seat map or on the Qantas A350 fleet page.

What it means for fares and alternatives

Expected premium: ~20% over one-stop itineraries · One-stop via Auckland: continues

Qantas hopes to charge about 20% more for the nonstop than for connecting trips. Travelers who want to pay less can still take its daily 787-9 one-stop via Auckland, which will keep running, or connect through US West Coast and Texas gateways. According to Qantas, visitor arrivals from the US are up 5% year on year, and demand on its New York flights has nearly doubled since 2023, AirlineGeeks notes.

If you live outside the New York area, total travel time may not improve: a domestic connection to JFK plus a 20-hour westbound leg can add up to about the same as flying to Dallas or Los Angeles and taking a 15- to 17-hour nonstop from there.

Should you wait for it?

Best for: NYC-area travelers, premium cabins, points redemptions · Risk: timeline tied to aircraft deliveries

Project Sunrise has been in development since 2017, and the New York start depends on Airbus delivering five aircraft on schedule, so treat "mid-2028" as a target. If you're flying to Australia before then, compare one-stop options now, or break up the trip with a stopover (see our guide to the best airline stopover programs). Simple Flying has more on how the launch sequence fits together.

People also ask

When does the Qantas Sydney to New York nonstop start?

Qantas plans to launch nonstop Sydney–New York JFK flights in mid-2028, with tickets going on sale in August 2027. The start date depends on Qantas receiving five Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, and it follows the Sydney–London nonstop, which is scheduled to begin in October 2027. An exact first-flight date has not been announced.

How long is the Sydney to New York nonstop flight?

The route covers about 9,950 miles. Qantas expects the eastbound Sydney–New York flight to take about 18 hours and the westbound New York–Sydney flight about 20 hours because of prevailing winds. That saves roughly three hours compared with today's fastest one-stop trip, which connects through Auckland on a Qantas 787-9.

What is the longest flight in the world?

Once it launches in October 2027, Qantas's Sydney–London nonstop will be the world's longest flight at 10,573 miles. Sydney–New York will be second at 9,950 miles. Until then, Singapore Airlines' Singapore–New York service holds the record, and it has run in some form since 2004.

How many seats are on the Qantas A350-1000ULR?

Each Qantas A350-1000ULR will have 238 seats in four cabins: 6 first-class suites, 52 business-class suites, 40 premium economy seats and 140 economy seats. Economy pitch will be 32–34 inches. Qantas has ordered 12 of these aircraft and plans to use about six on Project Sunrise routes.

Will the Sydney–New York nonstop cost more?

Probably. Qantas has said it wants to charge about 20% more for Project Sunrise nonstops than for comparable connecting itineraries. Actual fares will be set when sales open in August 2027. Qantas will also keep its daily one-stop Sydney–Auckland–New York service, which should remain the cheaper Qantas option.

Facts in this article were checked against current airline announcements and news reports as of September 25, 2026. Schedules and fares can change, so confirm details with Qantas before booking.