A 22-Hour Direct Flight, Set To Be World's Longest, Completes Maiden Flight

Qantas' long-anticipated Project Sunrise, a plan that could fundamentally reshape ultra-long-haul travel, has reached a significant milestone. After nearly a decade in development, the project is beginning to move from ambition to execution, signalling a future in which passengers could fly nonstop from Australia's east coast to cities such as London and New York.

This week, that possibility came a step closer to reality as Airbus completed the maiden flight of its specially designed A350-1000ULR aircraft, marking the start of the certification journey for what could soon become the world's longest scheduled passenger flights.

A Milestone For Ultra-Long-Haul Travel

Airbus announced that the first A350-1000ULR completed its maiden flight from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France. The aircraft remained airborne for three hours and 43 minutes, reaching an altitude of just over 41,000 feet, and was operated by a dedicated Airbus flight test crew.

According to Airbus, the aircraft was equipped with specialised flight test instrumentation and underwent initial performance checks during the flight. The aircraft's fuel system architecture, a key element in enabling ultra-long-range operations, was also tested.

This marks the start of a two-month certification campaign, during which Airbus will evaluate performance, efficiency, and onboard systems critical for flights lasting up to 22 hours.

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The A350-1000ULR has been specifically developed for Qantas Airways as part of its Project Sunrise initiative. The goal: to operate the world's longest nonstop commercial flights linking Sydney directly to London and New York.

Covering nearly 10,000 nautical miles (around 17,000 kilometres), these flights are expected to take up to 22 hours, eliminating the need for stopovers that have historically been unavoidable on such long routes.

A key innovation enabling this capability is the addition of an extra rear centre fuel tank (RCT), integrated into the aircraft's structure. This boosts the aircraft's range by approximately 1,000 nautical miles, allowing it to push beyond current long-haul limits.

Cabin Comfort And Onboard Systems Under Testing

Beyond range, Airbus is also testing systems aimed at improving passenger comfort on ultra-long-haul journeys. These include a new, more efficient galley air-cooling system designed to support extended operations, along with refined cabin ventilation and temperature control mechanisms.

These elements will be closely evaluated throughout the testing phase, as maintaining comfort over flights lasting nearly a full day presents a unique challenge for airlines and manufacturers alike.

What Happens Next

After the completion of the flight test campaign, the aircraft - currently identified as MSN 707 - will be modified to align with Qantas' commercial specifications before entering service.

Qantas has placed an order for 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft under Project Sunrise, along with an additional 12 standard A350-1000s for its long-haul network.

From Concept To Reality

Project Sunrise was first announced in 2017 and has since been viewed as one of the most ambitious undertakings in commercial aviation. For years, the idea of regularly scheduled nonstop flights linking Australia directly to Europe or North America was considered the "last frontier" of long-haul travel.

The maiden flight of the A350-1000ULR now represents the most tangible progress yet in turning that concept into a reality.

A New Benchmark For Global Travel

If and when launched, the Sydney-London route will become the world's longest scheduled passenger flight, spanning approximately 10,573 miles (17,016 kilometres).

This would surpass the current record held by Xiamen Air, which connects New York's JFK Airport to Fuzhou, China, clocking 19 hours and 20 minutes in the air.