Qantas Announces 18-Hour Direct Flights From Sydney to New York With Onboard 'Wellbeing Zones'

Qantas has announced plans to launch direct flights between Sydney and New York starting in 2028, cutting travel time to roughly 18 hours and marking the airline's second ultra long-haul route, according to The Guardian.

The new service, part of the airline's Project Sunrise expansion, will follow the launch of direct Sydney to London flights, which are set to begin in October 2027. Once operational, the Sydney-New York route will trim at least three hours off current travel times between the two cities, which typically require a stopover.

Qantas has said the aircraft used for these ultra long-haul routes will include onboard "wellbeing zones," designed to help passengers manage the physical demands of spending many consecutive hours in the air, although further specifics of these features were not detailed in the available reporting.

Project Sunrise has been in development for several years as Qantas has sought to establish direct, non-stop connections between Australia and major global cities, a longstanding goal for the carrier given Australia's geographic distance from other continents. The airline has framed the initiative as a way to reduce overall journey times for its long-haul customers.

Ticket pricing and specific aircraft configurations for the Sydney-New York route have not yet been announced.