Qantas Sydney–London Flights: What Changes in 2027?

What is changing on Qantas’s Sydney–London route?

Qantas plans to change the route of its QF1 and QF2 flights. Starting in October 2027, those services are expected to link Sydney and London without the present stop in Singapore. The airline says the change is part of Project Sunrise. ¹

The route has a long history: Qantas began flying between Sydney and London in 1947, when the trip took four days and included seven stops. ¹ The term “Kangaroo Route” is used by Qantas for routes connecting Australia and the United Kingdom by way of the Eastern Hemisphere. ³

This remains a future plan. The announced timing gives travellers an idea of when the service may begin, but the new flights are not yet operating.

Can passengers still fly via Singapore?

Yes. The current Sydney–London itinerary via Singapore is expected to remain available with the flight numbers QF5 and QF6. ¹ QF1 and QF2 are the services planned to become non-stop.

That gives passengers a choice between the direct itinerary and one that includes a Singapore stop. The report does not provide future schedules, fares or details about how long the Singapore stop will be. ¹

How much time might the direct flight save?

The reported estimate is a saving of around four hours compared with the current one-stop journeys between Sydney and the UK. ¹ That is an approximate comparison, not a promise that every trip or connection will be shorter by exactly that amount.

A direct journey would avoid a scheduled stop in Singapore. In exchange, passengers would spend a much longer stretch aboard the aircraft. The sources do not describe onboard routines or how travellers might manage the length of the flight.

Which aircraft is planned for the non-stop service?

Qantas plans to use the Airbus A350-1000ULR, a version configured for very long flights. The aircraft has an extra 20,000-litre fuel tank, and the report says it can remain airborne for as long as 22 hours. ¹

Qantas is preparing more than 360 pilots and 1,200 cabin crew for a planned group of 12 aircraft, according to a separate report. ² That report says the unusually long sectors require additional pilots on board and longer recovery periods between duties. ²

The same report says the first aircraft is expected to arrive in April 2027, with the Sydney–London service planned for that October. ² Those dates are projections, not confirmation that the milestones have already happened.

When can people book, and what details are missing?

Tickets for the non-stop service are scheduled to become available from February 2027. ¹ The report does not state the fare, the exact timetable, the number of weekly flights or how many seats will be offered.

In short, Qantas’s plan is to offer a direct option as QF1 and QF2, while continuing a Singapore-stop option as QF5 and QF6. ¹ Since both the booking and launch dates are still in the future, check Qantas’s current flight information before making travel plans.