For eight years, Qantas has been working on a Sydney to London Heathrow route. The project had been deemed Project Sunrise, and Qantas has been calling it “the final frontier in aviation.”
This long-haul frontier is now on Airbus’ assembly line in Toulouse, a significant step towards these historic non-stop flights that will also include service between Australia and New York.
Qantas and Airbus have released the first images of the A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft, following major production milestones. All key airframe components including the forward, center and rear fuselage sections have come together, along with the wings, tail section, and landing gear now attached.
This week, the aircraft will be transferred to a new hangar where it will have engines and flight test instruments installed, in preparation for an extensive test flight program, beginning in 2026.
These specially configured A350-1000ULRs will fly for up to 22 hours non-stop, made possible by an additional 5,300-gallon rear center fuel tank and enhanced systems. The direct services will cut up to four hours off total travel time, compared with one-stop services today.
“Given Australia’s position in the world, Qantas has a long history of breaking aviation barriers. Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world,” said Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson, in a statement.
The cabins have been developed from the ground up in collaboration with aviation specialists, including sleep scientists working to combat jet lag through features like customized lighting design and timed meal service. The cabin design will give passengers more space, with a 238-seat configuration versus the 300-plus seat layout used by other A350-1000 operators.
The first of 12 new aircraft is scheduled for delivery in late 2026, with the first commercial Project Sunrise flights beginning in the first half of 2027.
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