Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says the airline is currently studying the B777-8 for use in opening up new direct ultra-longhaul routes to the East Coast of the United States.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the new B777-8x range would allow for the operation of direct SYD - JFK flights. Currently, the route operates via LAX.

"We’re looking at the new 777-8X that would potentially have the range to do it, but that doesn’t come until (the early) 2020s,” he said.

Boeing says the B777-8 will be capable of ferrying 350-375 passenger up to 16,110km whereas Sydney-New York direct clocks in at 16,013km.

In June, Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans alluded to using the B777X as a potential replacement for its fleet of twelve A380-800s once they reach the end of their service lives sometime in the 2020s.

The Australian carrier is also considering starting direct PER - LHR and MEL - DFW services using its incoming fleet of eight B787-9s. The Dreamliners are scheduled to replace Qantas' outgoing fleet of B747-400s once they begin arriving in 2017.