An Airbus A350-1000ULR flew non-stop from Melbourne to Toulouse in 24 hours and 24 minutes. This 23,075-kilometer development flight is a significant milestone for Project Sunrise, the program through which Qantas is preparing for direct flights between Sydney, London, and New York starting in 2027.
The Airbus test aircraft landed in Toulouse on July 28, 2026, after crossing the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean. According to the specialized press, this is the longest distance ever flown non-stop by a commercial airliner.
The flight did not carry any commercial passengers. It was part of the testing and certification campaign for the Airbus A350-1000ULR, a version developed specifically for Qantas' needs.
Summary
An Airbus A350 in flight for 24 hours and 24 minutes
The Airbus A350 took off from Melbourne on July 27 at 7:28 UTC before landing in Toulouse the following day at 7:52 UTC. Airbus indicates a total duration of 24 hours and 24 minutes for a distance of 12,460 nautical miles, or 23,075.92 kilometers.
The route took the aircraft to North America, then over Canada, before crossing the Atlantic south of Greenland and passing through the United Kingdom.
Five pilots were on board for the return flight, including three Airbus pilots and two Qantas pilots. Flight test engineers also participated in the mission to monitor fuel consumption, equipment operation, and conditions on board.
A flight related to the certification of the A350-1000ULR
This flight is not an exact replica of a future commercial flight between Australia and France. It is part of a two-month test program launched in June 2026 to certify the modifications made to the aircraft.
The main change involves the integration of an additional 20,000-liter central rear fuel tank. This device should increase the A350-1000's range by approximately 1,000 nautical miles.
Airbus is also testing a modified fuel system, a new cooling architecture for catering areas, as well as cabin ventilation and temperature control.
The aircraft used for testing bears the serial number MSN 707. After the certification campaign, it must be reconfigured according to the commercial configuration chosen by Qantas.
Qantas plans to use 12 Airbus A350s for Project Sunrise
Qantas ordered 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs in May 2022. The airline plans to use them to connect the Australian East Coast directly to London and New York.
The first aircraft intended for commercial operation, named Vega, is due to be delivered in April 2027. Qantas plans to launch a daily non-stop service between Sydney and London in October 2027. Ticket sales are scheduled to begin in February 2027.
Airbus estimates that future flights could last up to 22 hours. Qantas, for its part, suggests a journey time of between 19 and 21 hours depending on the route taken and weather conditions.
The company claims that the direct connection could reduce the total travel time by up to four hours compared to current routes with connections. This estimate remains provisional and will need to be verified once the final commercial schedules are published.
Only 238 seats on board
The configuration chosen by Qantas provides for 238 passengers, which is a particularly low density for an Airbus A350-1000. The aircraft will include six first-class suites, 52 business-class seats, 40 Premium Economy seats and 140 economy-class seats.
Over 40% of the seats will therefore be located in premium cabins. A dedicated area for exercise, stretching, and hydration will also be set up between Premium Economy and Economy classes.
Qantas also announced 12 lighting sequences designed to support sleep and wakefulness. These systems were developed in collaboration with the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney. Their actual effectiveness for passengers will need to be assessed in commercial conditions.
A new record followed by 3.6 million people
Flightradar24 reports that 3,652,947 users tracked the flight between Melbourne and Toulouse. This makes it the second most tracked flight in the platform's history.
The record remains held by the flight that transported Queen Elizabeth II's coffin between Edinburgh and the British base of RAF Northolt in September 2022. Contrary to a date reported in some publications, this historic flight did not take place in 2024.
The outbound journey made a few days earlier between Toulouse and Melbourne now occupies third place in the Flightradar24 ranking.
The Airbus A350 surpasses the previous record held by the Boeing 777
In November 2005, a Boeing 777-200LR flew from Hong Kong to London via an eastbound route. The aircraft covered 21,601.7 kilometers in 22 hours and 42 minutes.
The Airbus A350-1000ULR flight exceeds this distance by approximately 1,474 kilometers. However, in both cases, these are technical or demonstration flights, and not regular commercial flights with passengers.
What this flight really changes for tourism
At this stage, the Melbourne-Toulouse flight does not yet prove the commercial viability of the Project Sunrise routes. It primarily confirms the aircraft's technical capability to remain airborne for more than 24 hours as part of a test program.
For travel agencies, the real change will come with the opening of the Sydney-London route. This route will allow for direct travel between Australia and the UK, but it will not eliminate all stopovers between Europe and Australia.
Travelers departing from France will still need to connect to London, Sydney, or another hub, unless a direct route to a French city is subsequently established. No commercial Sydney-Paris or Melbourne-Paris routes have been announced under Project Sunrise as of July 30, 2026.
The 24-hour flight of the Airbus A350 thus marks a verified technical advancement. The true commercial breakthrough will now depend on certification, aircraft delivery, and the actual launch of the Sydney-London route in October 2027.
Sources
- https://www.reuters.com
- https://www.airbus.com
- https://www.qantas.com/en-fr/onboard/fleet/a350
- https://www.flightradar24.com
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