An Airbus A350-1000ULR designed for Qantas’s Project Sunrise
has touched down in Melbourne after a nonstop test flight from Toulouse, France, covering approximately 17,000km. The aircraft landed at Tullamarine on Friday, July 24, 2026, at approximately 10:45 local time, following a journey that lasted some 19 hours and 11 minutes. The flight, which operated under the callsign ‘Airbus 35LR’, represents a major milestone in the airline’s plan to launch the world’s longest non-stop commercial flights.
Technical Specifications and Performance
The A350-1000ULR is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and features a specially-designed 20,000-litre aft centre fuel tank. This modification allows the jet to fly commercially non-stop for up to 22 hours. During the test flight, which reached a maximum altitude of 41,000ft, the crew tested critical systems including fuel transfer and air conditioning. According to Airbus, the extra fuel tank enables ultra long-haul routes of almost 18,500km (10,000 nautical miles).
The aircraft used for this milestone, registered as F-WULR (MSN707), does not feature the standard red-and-white Qantas livery, instead sporting a tan exterior with company branding and logos on the wingtips. All future Project Sunrise A350 aircraft will be equipped with a new galley air cooling system utilizing more efficient and lighter refrigeration units.
Project Sunrise Route and Capacity
Qantas intends to use these modified jets to operate a 17,015-kilometre journey between Sydney and London, with flight durations expected to range between 19 and 22 hours. The airline states this service will save passengers up to four hours compared to current fastest one-stop services. The route will occasionally utilize polar paths, particularly during the northern winter, and will operate alongside existing Sydney-Singapore-London and Perth-London services.
To reduce aircraft weight and increase passenger comfort, the A350-1000ULR will carry 238 passengers—significantly fewer than the 480 passengers a regular Airbus A350-1000 can accommodate. The cabin configuration includes:
- Economy: 140 seats (colloquially termed “cattle class”).
- Premium Cabins: First, Business, and Premium Economy tickets.
- Wellbeing Zone: A dedicated area for all passengers to stretch and access self-serve refreshments.
Timeline and Fleet Deployment
The test flight is part of a 75-80 hour certification campaign. While the test aircraft landed in Melbourne, Qantas plans to base the first six of its 12 custom-built A350-1000ULR aircraft in Sydney. The airline has not yet confirmed when passengers may be able to fly non-stop between Melbourne and London.
The project has seen several timeline shifts since its inception in 2017. While a November 2025 update suggested a first-half 2027 launch, Airbus confirmed in June 2026 that the first specially configured aircraft, named Vega (MSN814), will be delivered in April 2027. Qantas plans to start selling tickets for the Sydney-London route in February 2027, with daily non-stop flights scheduled to begin in October 2027. The airline has also flagged New York to Sydney as a likely subsequent step for the fleet.
Flight Logistics and Crew
The outbound flight departed Toulouse Blagnac’s runway 32L at 07:34 French time on July 23, transiting over Italy, the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia before crossing the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka. The mission was operated by four Airbus test pilots and five test engineers. On July 27, the aircraft is scheduled to depart Melbourne for the return journey to Toulouse, joined by two Qantas pilots. According to Qantas chief technical pilot Alex Passerini, the return flight is expected to take 23 hours.
The flight generated significant public interest, becoming the most-watched flight globally on Friday, with more than 67,000 people tracking its progress via FlightGlobal.
Worth a look
