Qantas is pushing the boundaries of ultra-long-haul travel with its ambition to operate the
longest nonstop commercial flights worldwide
.
Australia’s flagship carrier has outlined plans to connect Sydney directly with London and New York—routes that will redefine what is possible in commercial aviation. The Sydney-London journey, anticipated to last nearly 20 hours, is set to become the world’s longest scheduled flight, pending the delivery of next-generation ultra-long-range aircraft from Airbus or Boeing.
Additionally, Qantas is targeting a non-stop service from Sydney to New York, which would span around 18 hours. Meanwhile, Qantas has already established a direct Perth-London route, which has been operating successfully since March 2018 with a flight time of approximately 17 hours.
Flying nonstop between these global cities means passengers will save valuable hours by eliminating the need for layovers and refueling stops. Currently, a typical Sydney to London itinerary involves a stop and takes about 24 hours door-to-door; the proposed nonstop service would shave off at least four hours. Similarly, a direct Sydney-New York route would reduce the journey by nearly three hours compared to the standard one-stop options.
Qantas’ ambitious timeline has prompted both Airbus and Boeing to accelerate the development of their long-range models—the Airbus A350-1000ULR and Boeing 777-8—each engineered to deliver exceptional fuel efficiency and passenger comfort on flights of this magnitude.
Both manufacturers have made significant progress, with Airbus and Boeing expected to deliver aircraft capable of handling these demanding sectors in the near future. However, final specifications and delivery dates remain closely guarded as of 2025.
The race to operate the world’s longest flight has intensified in recent years, with leading airlines vying for the title. Qantas’ Perth-London service was a game-changer, while Qatar Airways previously set the benchmark with its 9,032-mile Doha–Auckland flight (17 hours 30 minutes), both earning accolades for innovation and passenger experience.
For a comprehensive overview of the most extensive journeys in modern aviation, explore our curated guide:
Top 10: World’s Longest Flights