Qantas has officially confirmed that it intends to launch its ultra-long-haul flight program, known as Project Sunrise, to London in October 2027: for the first time, the Sydney-London route could become a scheduled, non-stop connection between Australia's east coast and one of Europe's most important aviation hubs. For Hungarian travelers, this does not mean a direct Budapest-Australia flight, but rather a new option based on a London transfer, which could rewrite long-haul route planning, travel time, and the role of stopovers.
The announcement is considered important because it is not simply about a new long-distance flight. Qantas has treated direct flights between Sydney and London as one of the great tests of ultra-long-haul aviation for years. According to the current schedule goal, the first Project Sunrise flights would launch in October 2027, and ticket sales could begin in February 2027. According to the airline's announcement, the service could offer a total travel time up to four hours shorter than current one-stop solutions.
From the perspective of the Hungarian market, the news is particularly interesting because Australia is still typically reachable from Budapest with one or two transfers. Most passengers reach Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Perth via the Middle East, Asia, or a major European hub. If London Heathrow becomes the European endpoint for Qantas's new direct Sydney flight, then the quality, scheduling fit, and ticket conditions of connections between Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport and London Heathrow could become even more important for those planning a trip to Australia.
What exactly happened?
Qantas presented the Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft prepared for the Project Sunrise program in Qantas livery at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, and in doing so, confirmed that Sydney-London will be the first commercial route. According to the airline, this would be the first time a scheduled flight flies non-stop from Australia's east coast to London.
The historical contrast is strong: Qantas began flying the so-called Kangaroo Route between Sydney and London in 1947, which at the time took four days and involved multiple stops. For today's passengers, a one-stop Australia-Europe connection is already common, for example, via Perth, Singapore, Doha, Dubai, or other major hubs. The essence of Project Sunrise is precisely to connect the most important east-Australian cities directly with London and later New York.
The recently announced schedule plan does not mean an immediate start. Based on data from Qantas and Airbus, the testing and certification of the aircraft type remains a key step. Airbus reported in early June that the first A350-1000ULR test aircraft completed its first flight in Toulouse, marking the start of the test campaign necessary for the certification of type modifications. The first unit intended for Qantas is expected to arrive at the airline in April 2027, after which preparations for the commercial launch can follow.
Why is the A350-1000ULR special?
The technical foundation of Project Sunrise is the Airbus A350-1000ULR, which is being developed specifically for Qantas's ultra-long-haul routes. According to Airbus, the type is prepared for distances of approximately 10,000 nautical miles and flights of up to 22 hours, targeting the range required for the Sydney-London and Sydney-New York routes. A key role in increasing the range is the additional 20,000-liter rear center fuel tank built into the aircraft's structure.
Qantas has ordered a total of 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft for the Project Sunrise program. According to the airline's announcement, there will be 238 seats in four cabins, which is a consciously modest capacity relative to the aircraft's size. The emphasis is not on maximum numbers, but on ensuring that passengers handle flight times over 20 hours better physically and mentally. Qantas is building the cabin design, lighting, meal rhythms, and on-board solutions to aid movement around the management of jet lag and extremely long flights.
This could mean a tangible difference for passengers. In the case of a traditional one-stop Budapest-Australia trip, the transfer can be tiring but also a natural resting point: one can get off, walk, shower, or perhaps spend a night near the hub. In contrast, the direct Sydney-London flight promises fewer interruptions and a shorter total travel time, but requires a longer continuous on-board stay from the passenger.
What does this mean for Hungarian travelers?
From a Hungarian perspective, the most important practical question is not whether there will be a direct Budapest-Sydney flight, but whether the London connection will be more competitive compared to routes via the Middle East or Asia. The answer depends on the type of passenger. For those for whom the shortest possible total travel time matters, a Budapest-London-Sydney combination could be attractive, provided that the Budapest departure and the London onward journey fit well together.
At the same time, a connection purchased on separate tickets can be risky. If a passenger books the Budapest-London and London-Sydney segments separately, they may not necessarily have the same protection in case of delays as they would with a route issued on a single ticket. Therefore, it will be particularly important for those heading to Australia to check whether the ticket treats the entire journey as a single booking, how baggage drop-off works, and what rebooking conditions apply in case of delays or schedule changes.
Due to the size and traffic of London Heathrow, transfer time is not insignificant. Checking current flight information for Heathrow and terminal changes can be particularly important if someone is building a long-haul, high-value route on this connection. Hungarian travelers should leave a more comfortable margin than the minimum connection time recommended by the airlines, especially if they are traveling with checked baggage, family, or separate bookings.
Routes to Australia may transform
Qantas's new flight does not eliminate current Australia routes. The airline itself indicated that Project Sunrise flights will operate alongside existing Perth-London and Sydney-Singapore-London connections. This is significant because the market is not expected to switch to a single model. There will be passengers who choose the direct Sydney-London flight for the shortest path, while others will continue to prefer routes with stops via Singapore Changi, the Middle East, or Perth.
Stopovers have tourist value as well. Many consciously build in one or two days in Singapore, Dubai, Doha, or Perth, because this makes the long journey less taxing and a second destination becomes part of the trip. In contrast, the direct flight may favor those who want the fewest possible interruptions due to family visits, business trips, or time-sensitive programs.
Price competition will also be an important issue. Operating an ultra-long-haul direct flight is expensive, and due to the specifically designed cabin, limited seating capacity, and high premium demand, it is not certain that this will be the cheapest way to Australia. Hungarian travelers will therefore have to weigh not only the flight time, but also the total cost of the trip, baggage, connection guarantees, the need for an overnight stop, and the arrival time together.
Sydney and New York are also part of the larger plan
The current announcement focuses on London, but Project Sunrise is a broader program. Qantas also indicated that the Sydney-New York route could follow the London launch, with the exact timing to be announced later. This could affect long-haul traffic between Sydney, London, and New York JFK, and strengthen the trend in which major airlines concentrate on fewer transfers, premium passengers, and high-value intercontinental routes.
For Hungarian travelers, this could be indirectly useful. If more ultra-long-haul, high-prestige flights depart from London, the role of the London hub could strengthen for non-European routes. This could provide more route choice options, but could also increase traffic at Heathrow and demand for transfers. Those traveling to Australia from late 2027 should keep an eye on the London connection alongside traditional Asian and Middle Eastern options.
What to keep in mind before booking?
There is still more than a year before the launch of Project Sunrise, and the commercial start still depends on the aircraft deliveries, certification processes, and regulatory approvals. Therefore, the news is primarily a strategic travel planning signal, not a product immediately bookable on the Hungarian market. According to Qantas, the first Sydney-London tickets could go on sale in February 2027, so specific prices, connection options, and schedule details will emerge later.
Those preparing for Australia should keep three things in mind now. First: look at the entire route, not just the longest segment. A fast London-Sydney flight is advantageous if it is also conveniently and safely reachable from Budapest. Second: a connection within a single ticket can provide much more peace of mind than combining separate bookings. Third: flying over 20 hours is not ideal for everyone, therefore the reduction in travel time should be weighed against on-board comfort, health considerations, and personal tolerance.
Overall, Qantas's announcement is one of the most important long-haul tourism and aviation news of recent days. The direct Sydney-London flight will not replace all current Australia routes for Hungarian travelers, but it could set a new benchmark in travel between Europe and Australia. If the program proceeds as planned, from late 2027, London will not only be a transfer point for many Hungarian passengers, but also one of the fastest gateways to Sydney.