Qantas has reached another major milestone in its ambitious Project Sunrise program, with the Airbus A350-1000ULR completing its first-ever arrival in Australia after an incredible nonstop journey from Toulouse, France, to Melbourne.
The aircraft flew nearly 17,000 km in just over 19 hours, giving aviation enthusiasts a glimpse of the future of ultra long-haul travel. At one point, more than 67,000 people were tracking the flight live, making it the world’s most-watched aircraft on FlightRadar24.
This specially designed A350-1000ULR features an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank, allowing it to fly routes of up to 18,500 km. Once it enters commercial service, the aircraft is expected to operate Qantas’ groundbreaking nonstop Sydney–London flights, with journeys lasting up to 22 hours.
The test flight was operated by Airbus flight test pilots and engineers, while the return journey to France will include two Qantas pilots as they continue evaluating aircraft systems including fuel transfer, air conditioning, and other long-haul operational procedures.
Unlike the final production aircraft, this test jet is painted in a tan Airbus test livery with Qantas branding on the wingtips. The first fully painted Qantas A350-1000ULR, named “Vega,” is expected to be delivered in April 2027, with Project Sunrise passenger services currently planned to begin in October 2027.
Project Sunrise is set to redefine global aviation by connecting Australia directly with Europe and North America without stopovers, marking one of the biggest advances in long-haul air travel.
Would you fly on a nonstop 22-hour flight from Sydney to London? Let us know in the comments!
