Marathon test flight marks major step toward Qantas’ Project Sunrise

Airbus has completed a landmark nonstop test flight lasting 24 hours and 24 minutes, flying an Airbus A350 from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France, in what is being described as a major breakthrough for ultra-long-haul aviation.

The specially adapted A350-1000ULR covered 23,075 km (14,338 miles) without stopping before landing at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse. The aircraft is being developed for Qantas under the airline’s Project Sunrise program, which aims to launch the world’s longest commercial passenger flights.

According to Airbus, the jet is fitted with an additional fuel tank and other modifications designed to support flights of more than 20 hours. The flight forms part of a two-month test campaign that began in June.

The achievement drew enormous public attention, with flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reporting that the aircraft became the second-most-tracked flight in the platform’s history, attracting more than 3.6 million followers during the journey.

Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft configured for 238 passengers. The airline plans to use them for nonstop Sydney–London and Sydney–New York services, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in April 2027 and daily Sydney–London flights targeted for October 2027.

The test flight surpassed the previous long-duration benchmark set by a Boeing 777-200LR in 2005, which remained airborne for 22 hours and 42 minutes. Aviation analysts say the successful mission demonstrates how new-generation aircraft are pushing the boundaries of nonstop global air travel while reducing the need for traditional multi-stop routes between Australia and Europe.

For Qantas, the result is a significant milestone in its effort to transform the historic “Kangaroo Route” between Australia and Europe into a single continuous journey of about 19–21 hours, potentially reshaping long-haul travel patterns for premium and business passengers.

Key facts:

• Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000ULR
• Route: Melbourne → Toulouse
• Flight time: 24h 24m
• Distance: 23,075 km (14,338 miles)
• Operator: Airbus test flight for Qantas Project Sunrise
• Commercial launch target: Sydney–London nonstop from October 2027

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