Qantas' Project Sunrise Airbus A350-1000ULR completed its maiden test flight

Qantas’ Project Sunrise has officially taken flight with the maiden test of its Airbus A350-1000ULR, marking a pivotal step toward nonstop services from Australia’s east coast to London and New York.

First Flight Details:
- Took off from Toulouse and lasted 3 hours 43 minutes, flying over France and the Atlantic coast.
- Operated by two Airbus test pilots, three flight test engineers, and one ground test engineer.

Specialised Fuel System:
- Features an extra 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank, enabling flights of up to 22 hours nonstop.
- This system was a major focus of the maiden test.

Certification Campaign:
- Over the next two months, the aircraft will complete around 80 hours of flight testing.
- Includes ground checks and certification of redesigned components, such as a new galley cooling system with lighter, more efficient refrigeration units.

Fleet Progress:
- A second Project Sunrise A350 is already on Airbus’ final assembly line.
- It’s being fitted with a four-class interior and painted in Qantas livery, with delivery scheduled for April 2027.

Commercial Launch:
- Qantas will announce the first route and inaugural service timing later this month.
- Expected to revolutionize long-haul travel by eliminating stopovers on ultra-long sectors.

This is a landmark in aviation history—Qantas is essentially preparing to connect Australia directly to the world’s biggest hubs without a single stop.