TOULOUSE: Airbus has completed a marathon test flight of more than 24 hours for a specially modified A350 jet destined for Qantas’ planned nonstop routes from Australia to Europe, a key milestone in the airline’s ambitious Project Sunrise.
The aircraft, an A350-1000ULR equipped with an extra fuel tank, touched down Tuesday at Airbus’ factory in Toulouse after remaining aloft for 24 hours and 24 minutes and covering 23,075 kilometers (14,338 miles) without stopping, the manufacturer said.
The flight, which departed Melbourne, triggered a surge in online tracking, with more than 3.6 million people following its northward progress via Canada on Flightradar24. The tracking provider said the trip was the second-most-tracked flight ever on its channels, behind only a 2024 flight carrying Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin.
The test marks a significant step for Qantas’ Project Sunrise, which aims to launch the world’s longest commercial passenger services and reshape long-haul travel by eliminating stopovers between Australia and Europe. The Australian carrier has ordered 12 modified A350-1000ULR aircraft designed to connect Australia’s east coast with London and New York in about 20 hours.
The first aircraft, which carries 20,000 litres of fuel and can seat 238 passengers, is due for delivery in April 2027. Qantas expects to operate daily nonstop flights between Sydney and London from October 2027, transforming what was once a five-day journey on the “Kangaroo Route” into a single flight lasting 19 to 21 hours, depending on routing and winds.
Airbus has been conducting a two-month test campaign on the aircraft since June. The specially adapted airliner is due to debut with the Australian carrier’s nonstop Sydney-London route from 2027.
In 2005, a Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner flew 21,601.7 kilometers (13,422 miles) from Hong Kong to London in 22 hours and 42 minutes, the previous benchmark for ultra-long-haul endurance.
