Qantas to Launch 18-Hour Sydney–New York Direct Flights

Qantas will fly passengers between Sydney and New York in 18 hours when it launches its second ultra long-haul route in mid-2028, the airline has announced.

The new service cuts at least three hours from the current travel time on the route, which requires a stopover. It will become the national carrier's second ultra long-haul connection after Sydney to London.

The Sydney–New York route forms part of Qantas' Project Sunrise expansion program. The first Project Sunrise route, direct Sydney to London flights, is now planned for October 2027, following a series of delays to the original launch schedule.

Qantas says the 18-hour flights will feature onboard 'wellbeing zones', designed for passengers on the marathon journey between Australia and the United States.

The announcement makes Qantas one of the few airlines globally committing to non-stop flights exceeding 18 hours. With two ultra long-haul routes now scheduled within roughly a year of each other — London in late 2027, New York by mid-2028 — Project Sunrise moves from a long-promised concept to a firm timetable, and a direct test of whether premium travellers will pay for the time savings.