Twenty hours on a Qantas plane: is this the future of aviation or a fresh hell in economy?

Airline’s ultra long-haul flights are slated to begin in late 2025, but questions remain over the carbon footprint, price and effect on passengers’ bodies

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From late 2025, Qantas hopes to run the first of its “Project Sunrise” flights – up to 20 hours non-stop from the east coast of Australia to Europe and the US east coast.

Australia’s national carrier has trumpeted the flights as “the final frontier of aviation”, but health and industry experts hold concerns for the passenger experience and question whether eliminating a stopover will ultimately increase aircraft emissions.