Qantas has announced plans to launch direct nonstop flights between London and Sydney in 2027, using a specially configured Airbus A350 ultra-long-range aircraft designed to cover the 11,000-mile journey in under 24 hours. The airline revealed details of the bespoke jet at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, highlighting features aimed at enhancing passenger comfort and reducing jet lag on the estimated 21-hour flight.

The new A350 model, carrying 256 passengers, represents a significant advancement from Qantas’s current longest route from London to Perth, which operates with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The aircraft includes an additional fuel tank holding 20,000 liters to support the extended range. Cabin configurations offer a variety of seating options, including six types ranging from economy to first class.

Economy seating will feature an ultra-thin design to maximize space, with standard seats offering a 32-inch pitch and an Economy Plus section providing 42 extra-legroom seats with a 34-inch pitch—one of the best in the industry. The airline is also introducing a Wellbeing Zone in the economy cabin intended to encourage passengers to perform light exercises during the flight.

Premium economy will consist of 40 seats arranged 2-4-2 with a 40-inch pitch, matching competitors such as Emirates. Business class will include 52 suites laid out in a 1-2-1 format with sliding doors, offering seats an inch wider than those on Qantas’s Airbus A380 and converting into fully flat beds measuring 6.5 feet in length.

At the front of the aircraft are six first-class suites arranged in a 1-1-1 layout, each featuring 4.5-foot-high wraparound walls, reclining seats with 6.5-foot beds, wardrobes, dining tables for up to three guests, and 32-inch TVs. The center suite replaces a traditional window with a lighting panel that simulates the destination’s time zone to assist passengers’ circadian rhythms.

The cabin interiors reflect Australian influences through color schemes featuring sage greens, Pilbara reds, and oak-like finishes, with all seats made from breathable cloth rather than leather to reduce weight and enhance comfort. The aircraft will offer Wi-Fi provided by Viasat, diverging from more commonly used Starlink technology.

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson described the new service as a means to “defeat the tyranny of distance,” enabling travelers to arrive in Sydney nearly four hours faster than via connecting routes through Singapore. The fares for the nonstop flights are expected to be roughly 20% higher than those on the Singapore route, starting at approximately £2,000 for economy roundtrip and potentially exceeding £20,000 for first-class tickets, making it one of the priciest commercial air routes. Hudson cited the profitability and popularity of the London-Perth nonstop service as a strong indicator of the market’s willingness to pay a premium for direct connections.

Flight times will vary depending on prevailing winds, with the quickest possible journey estimated at 19 hours and 15 minutes. Flight routes will include a seasonal rotation, with options crossing the North Pole during the northern hemisphere winter and alternative paths over India, the Middle East, or the Pacific depending on tailwinds and headwinds.

To combat jet lag on this ultra-long-haul flight, Qantas has integrated special lighting cycles that simulate natural dusk and dawn patterns during the journey. After takeoff, cabin lights will gradually shift to evening tones to prepare passengers for sleep, followed by a simulated sunrise approximately twelve hours later. Meal services are also designed to assist passengers in adjusting their body clocks, featuring high-protein dinners to promote melatonin production and spicy breakfasts to stimulate wakefulness.

Qantas has maintained a London-Sydney connection since 1947, originally involving multiple stops and four days of travel. Each successive generation of aircraft has incrementally reduced travel time, with the new nonstop service marking the elimination of the last intermediate stop on what the airline refers to as the historic Kangaroo Route. Tickets for the inaugural flights will become available in February.