The world’s longest flight is currently a 18 hour, 50 minute route between JFK in New York City and Singapore, operated by Singapore Airlines.
This distance of 9,537 miles, flown using an Airbus A350-900ULR, is a clear reminder of how much modern aviation has progressed.
However, the title may soon be handed over to Qantas, which has revealed it is one step closer to launching its non-stop flight from Sydney to London and New York, with an anticipated flight time of over 19 hours.
The Australian airline’s plans, named “Project Sunrise”, have been almost seven years in the making.
The aircraft used for the flight, a brand-new Airbus A350s, is set to arrive in mid-2026.
The upcoming flights will be “a great way for Australians to break out and see the world on the A350,” said Vanessa Hudson, who took over as Qantas CEO last autumn at an airline event in the LAX hangar in September.
“This will set the tyranny of distance as a thing of the past. It’s going to enable us to fly from Sydney and Melbourne to New York direct and to London direct,” she added, highlighting that the current Qantas 17-hour flights from Perth to Europe continue to perform well, giving them confidence about Project Sunrise.
The project’s name was inspired by the airline’s long endurance flights during World War Two. The flights remained in the air for such a long time that passengers saw two sunrises.
Part of the next phase of development looks at how to minimise jetlag on ultra-long-haul flights, including analysing how to use different light settings to emulate various times of day, as well as the introduction of “wellbeing zones” features blue-enriched lights that will create slow-moving clouds, moonlight and water reflection projections, The Independent reported.
“We’re working with the Charles Perkins [Research] Centre in Sydney on really thinking about how to reimagine that next long-haul experience,” Hudson explained. “We’re going to be working with a number of frequent flyers over the coming weeks to help us understand and research that a bit more.”
The 12-strong fleet of specially adapted Airbus A350-1000 jets will carry 238 passengers. First-class passengers will enjoy extra-wide fixed beds, a separate recliner chair, a personal wardrobe, a 32-inch TV, and a dining table for two. There will also be 40 premium economy and 140 economy seats available.
The Airbus A350-1000 is now priced around $366 million (£280.6 million), though it often does not sell for the full price. This incredible aircraft can fly up to 8,700 nautical miles without stopping and is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 turbofans, which are considered to be some of the most efficient large aero engines available.
Qantas has described Project Sunrise as “the final frontier of long-haul travel”.
Originally, the airline considered using the Boeing 777X for the Sydney to London and New York route, but instead ordered the Airbus A350s.
The original plan was for the ultra-long-haul flights to begin in early 2023, but the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in delays.
It was also delayed due to an Airbus manufacturing hold-up after a regulator asked it to redesign the plane’s central tank. The unveiling date was moved back to 2026, almost a decade after the plan was announced.
