Jakarta, ThedailyID — Spending nearly an entire day on a plane without landing may soon become reality. Australian airline Qantas plans to launch the world’s longest nonstop commercial flight in October 2027, connecting Sydney and London with a journey lasting around 22 hours.
The new route will surpass current long-haul records and eliminate the need for transit stops between Australia’s east coast and the United Kingdom. According to Qantas, passengers will save roughly four hours compared with today’s one-stop flights.
The service will use specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft built for ultra-long-haul operations. Each plane carries an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank, allowing it to travel more than 16,000 kilometers without refueling.
The aircraft will accommodate 238 passengers across four cabin classes. Qantas plans to add 12 of the specially configured jets as part of its Project Sunrise initiative, which aims to connect Australia directly with major global cities.
The airline said ticket sales will begin in February 2027, ahead of the route’s official launch in October.
Project Sunrise has been in development since 2017. The project seeks to push the limits of commercial aviation by making extremely long nonstop flights practical and more comfortable for passengers.
According to Qantas, around 70% of Australians surveyed said they would consider booking a 22-hour nonstop flight. Among premium travelers, that figure rises to 80%.
After launching the Sydney-London service, Qantas also plans to introduce a nonstop route between Sydney and New York, with further details expected next year.
