Qantas to Launch First-Ever Direct Service from Australia to Las Vegas

From December 2026, Qantas will become the first airline in the world to offer nonstop flights between Australia and Las Vegas.  The Sydney-Las Vegas route will operate through March 2027, and will save guests up to five hours by eliminating a connection.

Rendering of Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner Over Las Vegas - Courtesy Qantas

On Thursday (February 26, 2026), Qantas announced that from December 2026 they will become the first airline in the world to operate a non-stop route between Australia and Las Vegas.  The new seasonal route between Sydney and Las Vegas will operate through March 2027, saving customers up to five hours in travel time by eliminating the need for connections through another U.S. city.  Las Vegas will become Qantas’ 101st destination, and the airline’s eighth city across North and South America, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Dallas, New York, Vancouver and Santiago.

In Thursday’s announcement, Qantas International’s CEO, Cam Wallace, said,

“Australians’ appetite for international travel continues to be incredibly strong.  Rome and Sapporo have shown us ‘real demand for seasonal services to destinations people want to visit at certain times of year, and we're continuing to expand those direct connections around the world.

“Our historic fleet renewal is giving us the flexibility to deploy aircraft where we see demand, opening up route possibilities that simply weren't there before.  Las Vegas becomes our 101st destination and is a great example of how we're using that capability.  This growth also creates real opportunities for our people, particularly our pilots and cabin crew, as we expand where we fly.”

Also commenting on the new service, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority’s President and CEO, Steve Hill, said,

“Australia has consistently ranked as our second-largest overseas market and our top international market without a nonstop flight.  More than 250,000 Australians visit each year, drawn by the breadth and depth of experiences Las Vegas offers.  We are grateful to Qantas for their partnership and confidence in our city.”

Qantas to Launch Exclusive Nonstop Service Between Sydney and Las Vegas From December 2026 - Courtesy Qantas

Now available for booking, the service will operate during some of the city’s biggest global events and expos including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest and most influential tech show, and as Vegas plays host to the National Rugby League’s (NRL) annual season kick off Las Vegas Festival, which has quickly become a flagship event for Australian and international sports fans.  Las Vegas is also home to world-class entertainment including residencies from some of the biggest names in music and serves as a gateway to attractions like the Grand Canyon and the broader American southwest regions.

The Sydney (SYD) to Las Vegas (LAS) route will operate as QF55, with the inaugural flight taking off on December 29, 2026 and operating until March 12, 2027.  The new route will be serviced with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.  Flight QF55 will depart Sydney at 21:00 and arrive in Las Vegas at 15:55 (all times local).  The flight time is approximately 13 hours and 55 minutes.

Source: Qantas