Passengers onboard a recent Qantas flight between New York and Auckland were diverted to Fiji and, eventually, Sydney . The flight, which is QF4, is a scheduled service that operates four times a week between New York and Sydney via Auckland, utilizing the flying kangaroos' Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner . Using Auckland as a one-stop route between Australia and the Big Apple Qantas decided to go head to head with hometown carrier, Air New Zealand , from Auckland on the lucrative New York - Auckland route in June last year, in light of the capabilities of the Dreamliner aircraft that can make the distance without refueling.
At the time, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce reiterated that the airline is committed to connecting New Zealand, and Auckland provides the ideal springboard to connect to JFK, avoiding the lengthy delays airline passengers used to experience when Qantas flew to New York but via Los Angeles International Airport . Followers of the Australian carrier know full well of the airline's ambitions to one day connect Sydney directly to New York as part of its 'Project Sunrise' initiative. This initiative will utilize the Airbus A350-1000ULR , which will serve New York and London directly from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD).
Qantas is planning to set a new record for the world's longest regularly scheduled flight with Project Sunrise. Project Sunrise will see the airline connecting London to Sydney with non-stop flights using specially modified Airbus A350s. These flights will.
