Qantas Postpones 22-Hour New York-Sydney Nonstop Flight—Again

BusinessAerospace & DefenseQantas Postpones 22-Hour New York-Sydney Nonstop Flight—AgainByMarisa Garcia,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Offering an insider’s view of the business of flight.Follow AuthorMay 25, 2026, 04:58am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Qantas' first A350-1000ULR at Airbus Toulouse in November 2025. © Airbus SAS 205The world’s most ambitious ultra-long-haul airline project will be delayed yet again. Qantas has pushed back the launch of its Project Sunrise nonstop flights between Australia’s east coast, London and New York following Airbus’ notification of delivery delays for its specially modified Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. After several postponements, the airline had targeted early 2027 to begin the long-awaited ultra-long-haul services that would set new records for flight duration. The first aircraft designed for this special mission was scheduled for delivery in late 2026 and was spotted at Airbus’s Toulouse facility in November of last year. However, it is now expected to arrive in Australia only in April 2027, forcing the airline to delay the start of commercial flights until later next year. Airbus has pointed to ongoing supply chain disruptions affecting its A350 production program, including aircraft interior components and fuselage assemblies from the former Spirit AeroSystems’ facility in North Carolina. Qantas first unveiled Project Sunrise in 2017 as an ambitious cabin design program to introduce new passenger-experience elements that would make long flights more bearable. But the program has been beset by complications, including the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent aircraft delays.A Decade-Long Wait For SunriseProject Sunrise was originally conceived as a bold attempt to connect Australia directly to almost anywhere in the world with non-stop flights lasting up to 22 hours.MORE F...