The Australian carrier is preparing to introduce the ultra-long-haul route in the first half of 2027, using specially adapted Airbus A350 aircraft capable of flying for up to 22 hours without refuelling. The service will connect London Heathrow directly with Sydney, covering a distance of 10,573 miles point to point.
Lauren McLeod, senior procurement manager for Australasia at Trailfinders, said demand for the non-stop option is likely to be strong, particularly among travellers who value simplicity and comfort.
She told The Independent: “We think it’s going to be massively popular.
“A lot of people prioritise ease, especially when travelling. Sitting down on one seat and ending up in your destination is always really popular.”
Qantas expects the flight time to be around 19 hours from London to Sydney, with the return leg taking roughly an hour longer due to prevailing headwinds. The aircraft being used for the route are currently under construction at Airbus’ factory in Toulouse and will feature an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank to enable the marathon journey.
The airline has confirmed the A350s will be configured with just 238 seats, significantly fewer than the aircraft’s maximum capacity. The four-class layout will include six first-class suites with full-size beds, alongside business, premium economy, and 140 economy seats offering a 33-inch seat pitch. That provides an extra inch of legroom compared with the Airbus A380 aircraft currently used by Qantas on its one-stop Heathrow to Singapore to Sydney service.
Qantas already operates one of the world’s longest commercial routes, flying nonstop between London and Perth. That service, covering a direct distance of 9,009 miles, launched in March 2018 and has proved popular with passengers seeking to avoid stopovers.
McLeod said the existing nonstop service plays a major role in Trailfinders’ Australia business.
She said: “A huge portion of our business is that flight.”
She added that for travellers opting for a single stop, Singapore remains by far the most popular routing when travelling between the UK and Australia.
The forthcoming London to Sydney flight marks a milestone in Qantas’ history with ultra-long-haul operations. The airline first flew nonstop between the two cities in 1989, although that was a special delivery flight with no paying passengers on board.
In addition to the London service, Qantas is also planning to launch non-stop flights between Sydney and New York, covering a distance of 9,940 miles.
Together, the routes form part of the airline’s broader strategy to reshape long-haul travel by offering direct connections between major global hubs, reducing journey times and removing the need for intermediate stops.
