QF1 is going non-stop! Qantas has announced that QF1 and QF2 will fly between Sydney and London non-stop from October 2027 as part of Project Sunrise. The airline says the new service will save customers up to four hours compared with its existing service via Singapore.
Tickets are scheduled to go on sale in February 2027. The announcement does not include fares, so there is no price to compare or book yet.
About Qantas
Qantas is Australia’s flag carrier and a founding member of oneworld, with domestic services and an international network spanning New Zealand, Asia, North America, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. See our Qantas airline guide for more on the airline and its partnerships.
About London
London offers plenty to build a trip around: the Tower of London for royal history, Westminster Abbey for its architecture, the British Museum for its collections and the London Eye for skyline views. Allow time beyond the major sights to explore the city’s neighbourhoods and catch a West End show. The official Visit London attractions guide is a useful starting point for planning.
What’s changing with QF1 and QF2?
The familiar flight numbers will move to the new non-stop service, while Qantas will retain the Sydney-London option via Singapore for travellers who prefer a stopover.
| Service | Flight numbers under the announced changes |
|---|---|
| Sydney-London non-stop | QF1 and QF2 |
| Sydney-London via Singapore | QF5 and QF6 |
| Seasonal Perth-Rome | QF105 and QF106, replacing QF5 and QF6 |
The change marks another milestone for the Kangaroo Route. When Qantas began flying Sydney-London in 1947, the journey took four days and involved seven stops. Eight decades later, Project Sunrise is set to remove the stopover entirely.
The aircraft behind Project Sunrise
Qantas will use specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, each with 238 seats across four cabins. An additional 20,000-litre fuel tank enables a range of more than 16,000 kilometres and flights of up to 22 hours non-stop. That is the aircraft’s stated capability; the announcement does not give an exact Sydney-London flight time.
The airline plans to take delivery of 12 aircraft in total. In its 9 November 2026 update, Qantas said the first test aircraft was nearing the end of its flight test programme, with the first delivery expected in April 2027.
Summary
For anyone planning a London trip from Sydney, the dates to watch are February 2027 for ticket sales and October 2027 for the planned launch. QF1 and QF2 will become non-stop, with the Singapore stopover service continuing under QF5 and QF6. Pricing will need to wait until Qantas releases fares.
Source: Qantas: QF1 is going non-stop, published 9 November 2026.
Launch dates, ticket sale timing and aircraft delivery plans reflect Qantas’ announcement and may change.