Qantas’ Next A350-1000ULR Route Confirmed

Qantas has confirmed that New York will join London as the first two cities to be linked non-stop with its Airbus A350-1000ULRs for Project Sunrise services.

With London locked in as the first city to welcome the highly modified A350-1000 jet from October 2027, the carrier said New York will follow soon after, but didn’t reveal specific details on the launch just yet.

New York and London are major cities, not only the highest-yielding from a long-haul standpoint, but also where the company has a long-established presence, fostering brand recognition and loyalty.

As long-awaited and always-likely choices, these two cities make for a great marketing story. Qantas to offer the only nonstop flights from Australia’s east coast to London and New York. These flights are breaking the boundaries of distance previously.

New York: The Always Likely Destination

New York has been part of Project Sunrise’s feasibility case since its inception, a day-one city that was always expected to receive the A350-1000ULR as soon as it became feasible; that moment is inching closer.

Qantas’ very first research flight even operated between New York JFK and Sydney, with this a key service that allowed the airline to understand better fatigue, cabin lighting arrangements, movement, and meal timing for these ultra-long-haul journeys.

Using the Boeing 787-9, which was flown with a lighter load, tests were conducted to ensure that the data collected would help shape the A350-1000ULR’s cabin, the locations to feature, and more. Thanks to that data, the airline is reaching a point where its route map is being finalised.

Aside from Project Sunrise, New York is one of the more important U.S. cities for the business, even if on the wrong side of the country from Sydney. That’s where the A350-1000ULR comes in, removing the previously set barriers.

Aided as well by American Airlines’ hub at JFK, the business can access premium corporate travellers and even premium leisure travellers across the entire U.S East Coast for a single flight to Australia, with no stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or any other hub.

The ability to skip these West Coast cities means Qantas will be able to save customers roughly four hours on their travel times from Manhattan through to Sydney, and eventually, with the delivery of more ULRs from Airbus, the expected Melbourne services as well.

Timeline Confirmed For Qantas’ Project Sunrise

Qantas, alongside confirmation that London Heathrow and New York JFK would be the first two airports to welcome Project Sunrise, provided a clearer timeline for the launch, which has been years-long and highly anticipated.

The first Airbus A350-1000ULR is expected to be delivered in April 2027. That confirmation, however, came in May and, off the back of yet another delay, after previous expectations had laid out a late-2026 debut with the airline, followed by an early- to mid-2027 launch of the marathon journeys aboard the jet.

In preparation for the delivery of the first aircraft, Qantas says that from February 2027, it will see the inaugural tickets to London go on sale, with details on New York JFK yet to come, aside from the route being confirmed as going ahead and the second one on the Project Sunrise list.

With an April 2027 delivery, Qantas would then begin a crew training period with the aircraft, with reports last year suggesting that locations such as Auckland and other domestic cities would welcome the jet as crew get up to speed ahead of its debut at London Heathrow.

Heathrow service, if all goes according to plan, will commence in October 2027, with New York JFK to follow soon after, as Qantas holds a positive outlook that the initial batch of units will be delivered in quick succession after many delays.

In total, Qantas will take delivery of 12 of the modified Airbus A350-1000ULRs. The 12 units will enable flying well beyond New York and London; these are just the first two locations, but more cities will be within reach and offered as viability is researched.