A Non-Stop Leap From London to Australia

For anyone down here who’s done the long haul to the UK, this one really caught my attention.

Flying from London to Australia has always been a bit of an endurance test. Right now, you’re looking at at least one stop and close to 30 hours all up before you finally touch down. Qantas is aiming to change that with what they’re calling Project Sunrise – an ultra-long-range flight that will go non-stop from London to Sydney in around 22 hours.

If it happens, it’ll be the longest non-stop passenger flight in the world. At the moment, that title belongs to Singapore Airlines with its 19-hour service between New York and Singapore. Project Sunrise gets its name because passengers will actually see two sunrises during the journey, which feels very on brand for a flight that’s pushing the limits of what’s possible.

The plan is for test flights to begin next year, with full commercial services launching in 2027. The aircraft itself has an extra 20,000-litre fuel tank to make the distance achievable.

Spending 22 hours in the air is no small ask, so Qantas is rethinking the cabin layout as well. There’ll be fewer seats than usual – 238 instead of more than 300 – which should make things feel less cramped. Passengers will be able to move around more freely, and there’ll be a dedicated wellness zone where you can stretch. Qantas has also worked with sleep and health specialists to fine-tune lighting, meal times and onboard routines, all aimed at reducing fatigue and jet lag.

Back in November, Qantas shared an update saying the project is tracking well, with the wings, tail section and landing gear now attached to the aircraft.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson described Project Sunrise as a way to overcome the “tyranny of distance”, saying it will fundamentally change how people travel the world. She noted that these flights could cut up to four hours off the journey and transform the ultra-long-haul experience through science-backed design focused on wellbeing and minimising jet lag.

The first of 12 new aircraft is due to be delivered in late 2026, with the first commercial Project Sunrise flights expected to take off in the first half of 2027. For those of us used to the long slog across the globe, that’s a pretty exciting prospect.