Qantas has pushed back its Project Sunrise nonstop Sydney-London service to November 2027, marking another delay for the highly anticipated ultra-long-haul route. The announcement came during Wednesday’s political news cycle, though the carrier did not specify the reason for the postponement.
The fresh delay underscores the technical and operational challenges of launching 20-hour flights. Qantas originally aimed for 2025, but has repeatedly cited aircraft readiness and crew fatigue management as hurdles.
In a separate development, One Nation leader Barnaby Joyce stopped short of endorsing a total ban on migrants from Muslim-majority nations when pressed on the party’s evolving immigration policy. Instead, he argued Australia should not accept people from “febrile parts of the world,” signalling a nuanced but still restrictive position.
Joyce also redirected the party’s focus toward small business owners, criticizing recent childcare wage increases and labor reforms. “If you arbitrarily say, well, we’re just going to put up wages… the small business that’s already struggling… will have to charge $10 for a cup of coffee,” he warned.
The dual announcements — one corporate, one political — arrive as Australia grapples with cost-of-living pressures and debates integration policy. No further details on Project Sunrise’s latest setback have been released.