Qantas Tests Ultra-Long-Range Airbus on 17,000km Nonstop Flight to Melbourne
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Qantas has completed a major test flight of its new ultra-long-range Airbus A350-1000ULR, with the aircraft landing in Melbourne after a nearly 19-hour nonstop journey from France as the airline prepares for its ambitious Project Sunrise flights.
The aircraft departed Airbus’ manufacturing facility in Toulouse on Thursday and travelled almost 17,000km to Australia, becoming the most tracked flight in the world on flight monitoring website Flightradar24, with more than 67,000 people following its route.
The A350-1000ULR is being developed to operate some of the world’s longest commercial flights, including Qantas’ planned direct service between Sydney and London, which is expected to begin in 2027 and could take up to 22 hours.
During the test flight, four Airbus pilots and five flight test engineers evaluated key systems, including fuel management and cabin conditions. Qantas said the aircraft would remain in Melbourne before returning to Toulouse, with two Qantas pilots joining the return journey.
The aircraft is the first of its model to enter flight testing and features an additional 20,000-litre fuel capacity, allowing it to travel up to 18,500km. Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft, configured with 238 seats, fewer than standard versions to prioritise passenger comfort on ultra-long routes.
Project Sunrise, which aims to connect Australia directly with destinations including London and New York, has faced several delays. Qantas now expects its first specially configured aircraft to be delivered in April 2027, with commercial services due to follow later that year.
