The world’s longest flight will launch from London in 2027 – and it starts testing in 2026

Making the epic journey from London to Australia will soon be just that bit more bearable. Currently, if you’re looking to fly Down Under from the capital, you can expect at least one layover and a close to 30-hour total journey. Airline Qantas is in the process of creating an ultra-long-range plane that can fly for up to 22 hours from London to Sydney without pausing.

This will be the longest non-stop passenger flight in the world. Currently the flight holding that title is Singapore Airlines’s 19-hour service from New York to Singapore. 

Project Sunrise, which got its name because passengers will be able to see two sunrises while onboard the vessel, will begin test flights next year and will launch fully in 2027. The super long-haul flight is made possible by an additional 20,000 litre fuel tank.

Twenty-two hours sounds like a long time to sit still, so Qantas is redesigning the cabin to make it more comfortable. There will be fewer seats than usual – 238 instead of over 300 – allowing you to walk around, and a dedicated wellness zone for stretching. The airline has also worked with sleep and health specialists to develop lighting, meal timing and inflight routines aimed at reducing fatigue and jet lag.

In November, Qantas gave an update that the project is coming along well. The wings, tail section and landing gear are now attached to the new plane.

Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said Project Sunrise will overcome the ‘tyranny of distance’, adding that the project will ‘fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world’.

She added: ‘These flights will cut up to four hours off the journey and transform how people experience ultra long-haul travel, through science backed design to minimise jetlag and maximise wellbeing.’

The first of 12 new aircraft are scheduled for delivery in late 2026, with the first commercial Project Sunrise services starting in the first half of 2027.

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