Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) has joined carriers including ZIPAIR and WestJet in calls to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to retain Midway Island airport as an Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards (ETOPS) option, stressing that losing it would increase costs and disrupt transpacific operations. The Australian carrier is concerned that not having Midway as an alternate would impact its pending A350-1000(ULR) operations, particularly its direct London Heathrow route.

Separately, the airline announced that it plans to launch non-stop Sydney Kingsford Smith-New York JFK flights in mid-2028 using its A350-1000(ULR) aircraft, with tickets due to go on sale in August 2027. The service will be Qantas' second Project Sunrise route after Sydney-London Heathrow, which is scheduled to begin in October 2027. The carrier's first A350-1000(ULR) aircraft is expected to arrive in April 2027.