Qantas Project Sunrise: Airbus A350-1000ULR Completes Record 24-Hour Nonstop Test Flight

Why This Flight Matters for Project Sunrise

Qantas launched Project Sunrise in 2017 to create nonstop commercial routes connecting Australia's east coast cities — Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane — directly to London, New York, and other European destinations . The A350-1000ULR is the cornerstone of that plan. It is modified with a specially designed extra fuel tank and structural optimizations to handle sectors of up to approximately 22 hours . This test flight validated those modifications under real-world conditions, clearing a major certification hurdle .

Commercial Service Timeline

Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft . The first is expected to be delivered in April 2027, and the airline plans to launch nonstop Sydney-to-London services by late 2027 — likely in October of that year . The route would become the world's longest commercial passenger service .

A Flight the World Watched

The test flight triggered a massive surge in online tracking. It became one of the most-watched flights on Flightradar24 and other aviation enthusiast platforms, with millions of people following its real-time position across the Pacific, over North America, and across the Atlantic . The journey's 24-hour-plus duration, combined with the promise of a new era in ultra-long-haul travel, captured widespread public interest .