22-Hour Flights Are About to Become Reality
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Published: 20 March 2026 Written by: Shashwat Dwivedi
Qantas is preparing to launch the world’s longest nonstop commercial flights, connecting Sydney with London and New York in journeys lasting up to 22 hours.
Qantas is all set to launch two of the longest direct flights ever operated next year. One from Sydney to London (10,573 miles) and another from Sydney to New York City (10,100 miles).
Both routes will have an extraordinary duration of up to 22 hours and are expected to reshape long-haul travel, bringing ultra-long-distance flying without stopovers into the mainstream. The move could cut total journey times by around four hours by eliminating refuelling stops.
This breakthrough has been made possible by Qantas’ order of specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, first announced in 2022. These aircraft are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and feature additional fuel capacity to support the extended range required for such missions.
The flights have already earned a fitting name among aviation enthusiasts: Project Sunrise. The concept reflects a unique passenger experience, where travellers could witness two sunrises during a single journey.
Passengers departing at night may see the first sunrise over Asia or the Middle East. As the aircraft continues westward, chasing daylight across the globe, a second sunrise may appear closer to Europe or North America.
The contrast with history is striking. In the 1940s, the journey between Australia and the United Kingdom followed the famous Kangaroo Route, requiring up to seven stops and taking four to five days to complete. Stops included Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Tripoli, and Rome.
The new aircraft will carry 238 passengers in a carefully designed cabin layout, including six first-class suites, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats.
Australian designer David Caon, who worked on the project, explained the complexity behind the design, stating: “We had a team of six people working on it full time for two years – things like aircraft weight, maintainability, safety and comfort all have to be weighed against the aesthetic decisions we make.”
These routes are expected to redefine the boundaries of long-haul travel, not just in terms of distance, but in how airlines approach passenger comfort, crew operations, and aircraft performance over extended periods in the air.
These routes are expected to play a key role in shaping the future of long-distance air travel, pushing the boundaries of what is operationally and commercially possible.
Key Facts
New nonstop routes: Sydney–London (10,573 miles) and Sydney–New York (10,100 miles)
Flight durations of up to 22 hours will make them the longest commercial routes in the world
Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft with enhanced fuel capacity enable the extended range
Project Sunrise offers passengers the rare experience of witnessing two sunrises on one flight
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Author: Shashwat Dwivedi Aviation staffing and consultancy insights LinkedIn
