Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) is hoping to be prepared to make final decisions on its planned direct services from Sydney Kingsford Smith and Melbourne Tullamarine to London Heathrow and New York JFK by the end of 2019, CEO Alan Joyce said during the Amazon Innovation Day.

As reported by the Australian media, Joyce said that he hoped to have agreements with staff, regulators, and onboard services prepared by the end of the year. At that point, Qantas also hopes to be ready to select an aircraft type for the routes.

"We have [to make] changes to pilot contracts, because you can't fly for 21 hours in a day. We have [to make] changes with the regulator. We think we will have all of that lined up, hopefully, this year, so we can pick the model for that aircraft," Joyce was quoted as saying by the Australian Financial Review.

Qantas currently operates its only direct service to Europe from Perth International to London using B787-9 aircraft. In the mainland United States, it flies direct to Los Angeles International, San Francisco, and Dallas/Fort Worth. Flights to JFK operate via Los Angeles onboard B787-9s.

Project Sunrise, which is the code-name for direct flights to Europe from Sydney or Melbourne, will most likely use a variant of B777X or A350 aircraft. The Australian airline previously tentatively scheduled the launch of such flights for 2022.