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Sunrise Flight: Airbus A350 Lands After Record 20-Hour Test
24 Jul
Summary
- An adapted Airbus A350-1000ULR completed a 20-hour flight test.
- The plane features an extra 20,000-litre fuel tank for extended range.
- Direct flights to London and New York are planned for October 2027.
An adapted Airbus A350-1000ULR, part of Qantas' Project Sunrise, has successfully landed in Melbourne following a direct, 20-hour-plus flight test from its manufacturing facility in France. This specially equipped aircraft, featuring an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank to extend its range beyond 18,000 km, demonstrated its capability for ultra-long-haul journeys.
The A350-1000ULR is engineered for non-stop flights of up to 22 hours, aiming to establish the world's longest commercial routes. These routes are set to connect Australia directly with London and New York. For instance, a Sydney to London flight is expected to take between 19 hours and 25 minutes, with the return journey between 18 to 20 hours.
This test flight was operated by four Airbus flight test pilots and five flight test engineers, who rigorously assessed the aircraft's systems. The plane, which completed its first flight on June 2, 2026, has undergone extensive testing. Qantas plans to introduce the A350-1000 ULR on the London to Sydney route starting in October 2027, though no direct routes to Melbourne are currently scheduled.
