Qantas to Fly Daily Between Sydney and New York via Auckland in 2026

Big news for long-haul travellers: Qantas has announced it will boost its Sydney–Auckland–New York route to daily services between June and October 2026, marking the first time the airline has offered daily flights to New York since before the pandemic.

Since its launch in June 2023, the Sydney–Auckland–New York connection has quickly become a favourite with travellers, and the upgrade from five flights a week to daily speaks volumes about the demand.

A Return to Daily New York Flights

For Qantas, this marks an important milestone. Pre-pandemic, the airline once linked Sydney to New York via Los Angeles. With this enhancement, travellers can once again count on daily options to the Big Apple, this time through Auckland.

Cam Wallace, CEO International at Qantas, expressed the airline’s enthusiasm:
“We’re thrilled to be increasing our Sydney – New York flights via Auckland to daily from June to October next year. These flights have been very popular with our customers and we’re looking forward to continuing the service alongside our future nonstop options between Sydney and New York with Project Sunrise.”

He also pointed out that the increase comes amid a surge of interest from US travellers heading to Australia, further strengthening two-way connectivity.

More Choices Across the Pacific

The announcement comes during what Qantas is calling a “moment of growth” for its trans-Pacific network. Alongside the New York boost, the Airbus A380 has returned to Sydney–Dallas, while the Dreamliner is once again flying between Brisbane and Los Angeles. Both aircraft bring additional premium seating capacity, catering to travellers seeking comfort on these longer journeys.

For Australians exploring the United States—or Americans intrigued by a trip Down Under—the partnership between Qantas and American Airlines continues to offer seamless onward connections across North America.

A Perfect Alignment with New York’s Big Year

The timing couldn’t be better. New York is gearing up for a global spotlight in 2026, hosting matches for the FIFA World Cup, with the final scheduled for 19 July in the New York/New Jersey area. Between football fever, music, art, and cultural revival, the city will be buzzing all season.

Travellers arriving on these new daily flights can also look forward to a string of long-anticipated reopenings and debuts:

• The Waldorf Astoria New York, recently unveiled after an eight-year transformation.
• The Hip Hop Museum at Bronx Point, set to open in 2026.
• The Studio Museum in Harlem and the Frick Collection, both returning to the cultural scene by late 2025.

Making Arrival Easier

For Australian travellers landing at JFK, Qantas has highlighted the use of the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app, which helps speed up immigration processing—a welcome time-saver after a long-haul flight.

Looking Ahead

With Project Sunrise on the horizon—Qantas’s plan for future direct flights from Sydney to New York—this daily service via Auckland feels both like a celebration of present success and a glimpse of what’s to come.

For now, the 2026 upgrade means even more chances to chase that dream holiday or business trip to New York. Whether it’s for the FIFA World Cup final, a nostalgic stay at the newly revived Waldorf, or simply a bagel in Central Park, Qantas just made the journey a whole lot easier.