Passengers On This New Jet May Get To Watch The Sun Rise Twice

Imagine watching the sunrise not once, but twice in a single flight — that's exactly what travellers can expect on Qantas' soon-to-launch nonstop journeys from Sydney to London and New York. Qantas is taking the experience of flying to a whole new level. Qantas, Australia's national airline, shared the first pictures of its new Airbus A350-1000ULR plane on Saturday on the social media platform X. In the post, the airline revealed that the plane is now on the final assembly line in Toulouse, France.

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Calling this initiative "Project Sunrise," Qantas aims to operate record-breaking nonstop flights that will connect Australia's east coast directly with London and New York. The airline mentioned that all the main parts of the plane — including the forward, centre and rear fuselage sections — have come together, along with the wings, tail section and landing gear, now attached.

It also pointed out that the aircraft will be moved to a different hangar this week, where the engines and flight test instruments will be installed. These instruments are essential for testing the plane to make sure everything works safely before it starts carrying passengers.

Watch the full post below:

Our first @Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft is now on the final assembly line in Toulouse! 😍

This marks a significant step in #ProjectSunrise, which will conquer the final frontier of long-haul travel with non-stop flights between Australia's east coast and… pic.twitter.com/VqxtRMBzUm

— Qantas (@Qantas) November 6, 2025

Shorter Travel Time

Currently, flying from London or New York to Sydney takes about 22 to 23 hours with stops or long routes. With these new nonstop flights, Qantas will reduce that time by up to four hours, so the trip could take around 17 to 18 hours.

"Project Sunrise will deliver more direct routes to Australia, significantly reduced point-to-point travel time (up to four hours compared with one-stop flights) and a flying experience second to none — with a cabin interior and service design influenced by medical and scientific research carried out on research flights," the airline wrote in its blog post.

Features of Airbus A350-1000ULR

Photo: X/@Qantas

Qantas worked with design experts Caon Design, chef Neil Perry, and the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre to maximise comfort and wellbeing in-flight. This plane has a 20,000-litre fuel tank at the rear centre, which lets the plane fly nonstop for up to 22 hours.

The new Qantas A350-1000ULR planes will have very roomy cabins, giving passengers more space to stretch, move and relax. This plane will have only 238 seats, which is far fewer than a typical A350-1000 that usually has about 400 seats.

In addition, all passengers can use a special area called the Wellbeing Zone, where they can move around and enjoy healthy premium snacks and drinks. It's designed to help you stay comfortable and energised on a long flight.

Passengers in all cabins can enjoy complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for work or entertainment and Bluetooth audio connectivity across all devices.

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Types of Cabins

There are four types of cabins on this aircraft: First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy. More than 40 per cent of seats on the airline's latest aircraft are dedicated to Premium cabins.

• First Class is all about luxury. The cabins are fully enclosed, giving you maximum privacy. Each seat turns into an 80-inch (2-metre) flat bed, and there's a separate reclining armchair so you can relax in style.
• Business Class is designed for comfort and privacy. For the first time, these suites come with a sliding door. The modern design and materials make your flight feel very comfortable and spacious.
• Premium Economy is a mix of comfort and style. It has an adjustable 8-inch winged privacy headrest and a calf rest that lets you fully stretch your legs.
• Economy Class is roomier than usual, with a 33-inch seat pitch. Each seat comes with a 13.3-inch entertainment touchscreen and Bluetooth audio for your devices.

When will it start?

It is planned to start in the first quarter of 2027.