Hong Kong International Airport and other transit hubs under threat as Qantas moves towards 20-hour non-stop flights between Melbourne and London, Sydney and New York

Australian carrier issues final call for offers from Airbus and Boeing as it weighs up whether to launch new ultra long-haul flights

Move could have negative impact on popular layover locations such as Hong Kong, but Qantas boss says no decision has been made

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Qantas aircraft, pictured in Melbourne, would fly direct to places such as London if Qantas follows through with Project Sunrise. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:00pm, 16 Jun 2019Updated: 1:37pm, 16 Jun 2019

Hong Kong and other transit airport hubs for one-stop flights face being snubbed by passengers as the stars gradually align for Qantas’ ambitious bid to realise 20-hour flights.

Working towards a year-end deadline to order new planes, Project Sunrise is the Australian carrier’s drive for non-stop flights connecting Melbourne with London, and Sydney with New York, with four classes of travel, including economy and first by 2022-23.

“We do think the project plan and business case for [Project] Sunrise has the potential of really working for us,” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, in comments to reporters on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) meeting of industry leaders in Seoul last week.

Singapore Airlines holds the title for the world’s longest flight on its non-stop Singapore-New York service, which lasts less than 18 hours but only has business and premium economy seats.

Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Airways Ltd, tells the media at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) they will ‘kill’ their ultra long-haul plans if the numbers do not add up. Photo: Bloomberg

Giving the latest update on Sunrise, Qantas said it has concluded its evaluation of potential aircraft types and has sought “the best and final” offers from Airbus and Boeing, that meet cost requirements and guarantee performance and reliability.