Qantas Resumes Its Longest Flight to New York JFK via Auckland

Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier, has relaunched its direct service to New York from Sydney via Auckland. The flight, which is one of the longest in the world, had been suspended since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first flight took off from Sydney International Airport on June 14, 2023, and landed in Auckland (AKL), New Zealand, after a three-hour journey. After a short stopover, it continued its way to New York (JFK), USA, for another 16 hours and 15 minutes.

The Sydney-New York route used to have a stopover in Los Angeles until 2020. However, Qantas decided to change it to Auckland due to travel restrictions and market conditions. The new routing also allows Qantas to tap into more traffic from other Australian cities that have direct flights to Auckland, such as Melbourne and Brisbane.

Qantas operates three flights per week on this route using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 236 seats (42 in business class, 28 in premium economy class and 166 in economy class). The frequency will increase to four flights per week from October 2023.

To celebrate the return of this flagship service, Qantas has prepared some special treats for its passengers. They include designer pyjamas with a New York theme, exclusive menus inspired by the Big Apple’s cuisine and culture, and enhanced entertainment options onboard and at Qantas’ lounges.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce was among the passengers on the inaugural flight. He expressed his excitement about reconnecting Sydney and New York after more than two years.

“While the world has changed dramatically since the start of COVID, one thing that hasn’t changed is the lure of New York City,” he said in a statement. He also said that Qantas had received strong demand for this route since it opened for bookings.