Qantas has confirmed London as the inaugural destination for its planned non-stop flights from Sydney, with services scheduled to commence in October 2027.
The route, part of the airline's long-awaited Project Sunrise programme, will provide the first direct passenger air service between Australia's east coast and the United Kingdom, eliminating the need for a stopover on one of the world's longest commercial air routes.
The announcement was welcomed by British tourism officials, who said the new service would strengthen links between the two countries and support visitor growth.
“This is fantastic news for British tourism,” said Stephanie Peacock. “Direct flights from Australia remove one of the biggest barriers for Australian visitors coming to the UK.”
According to VisitBritain, Australian visitors are forecast to contribute £1.8 billion to the UK economy in 2026. The agency said Australians typically stay longer and spend more than the average international visitor.
Patricia Yates said improved air connectivity would benefit both leisure and business travel.
“Expanding airline connectivity and capacity from Australia is a major boost for our tourism offer and global competitiveness,” she said.
Yates noted that Australian travellers are an important market for regional tourism, with around seven in ten visitor nights spent outside London.
The new route represents a significant milestone for Qantas, which has been developing ultra-long-haul operations capable of linking Australia directly with major international destinations.
VisitBritain said it will continue to work with the Australian and New Zealand travel trade through its upcoming Australia and New Zealand Mission, aimed at driving future visitation and regional dispersal across Britain.
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