Qantas to Launch Non-Stop Sydney–London Flights in 2027
Qantas will remove the Singapore stopover from its iconic QF1 and QF2 Sydney–London services from October 2027, introducing non-stop flights under its ambitious Project Sunrise initiative.
The change will mark a major milestone for the historic Kangaroo Route, which has connected Australia and the United Kingdom for almost 80 years.
Passengers who prefer to stop in Singapore will still have that option. The existing one-stop Sydney–London service will continue under new flight numbers, QF5 and QF6.
The Kangaroo Route first operated in 1947, with the journey from Sydney to London taking four days and involving seven stops. Over the decades, the route has been served by aircraft including the Lockheed Constellation, Boeing 747 and Airbus A380.
The new direct service will use specially designed Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, capable of flying for up to 22 hours without stopping.
Each aircraft will feature an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank and upgraded systems to support the ultra-long-distance journeys.
Qantas estimates that the non-stop flights will reduce travel time by around four hours compared with current services that include a stopover.
Tickets for the direct Sydney–London flights are expected to go on sale in February 2027.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson previously described Project Sunrise as a major achievement in the airline's 105-year history, reflecting its long-standing ambition to overcome the challenges of Australia's distance from major international destinations.
However, the aircraft delivery programme has faced delays due to supply chain issues. The first of the 12 new A350 aircraft, originally expected in late 2026, is now scheduled to arrive in April 2027.
Qantas expects the following four aircraft to be delivered shortly afterwards. Three aircraft will be required to operate a daily non-stop service.
The airline is also preparing to launch direct Sydney–New York flights in 2028. The service is expected to cut more than three hours from current one-stop journeys, with tickets for the inaugural flight scheduled to go on sale in August 2027.
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Source : 9 News
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