[REVISION HISTORY]

Qantas Project Sunrise ultra‑long‑haul progress

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2026-07-30 14:03 UTC → 2026-07-31 21:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Airbus completed two proving flights of the Qantas‑dedicated A350‑1000ULR in July 2026. The first, from Toulouse to Melbourne, lasted about 19 hours and covered roughly 17 000 km. Two days later the aircraft flew nonstop from Melbourne to Toulouse, staying aloft for 24 hours 24 minutes and covering about 23 075 km (12 460 NM), breaking the previous passenger‑type aircraft record set by a Boeing 777‑200LR in 2005. The flight attracted over 3.6 million total Flightradar24 viewers, making it the second‑most‑watched flight after the 2024 journey carrying Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin. The record‑setting Melbourne‑Toulouse flight was conducted without passengers; twelve test pilots, engineers and Qantas staff were aboard. It was recognised as the longest continuous flight by a large commercial aircraft, reinforcing Qantas’s timeline for the inaugural non‑stop Sydney‑London service slated for October 2027. The A350‑1000ULR’s added 20 000‑litre rear centre fuel tank gives a theoretical nonstop range of up to 22 hours, supporting ~~Qantas’~~ Project ~~Sunrise~~ Sunrise’s schedule for daily Sydney‑London services launching in October 2027, followed by Sydney‑New York routes. Qantas has ordered twelve of the aircraft; the first delivery, named Vega, is expected in late 2026 or early 2027. The cabin will seat 238 passengers across four classes and include a dedicated Wellbeing Zone to mitigate fatigue, dehydration and thrombosis risks on ultra‑long‑haul flights. Pilot and cabin‑crew training, certification work in France and ticket‑sale planning continue ahead of the inaugural service.

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