Qantas test aircraft completes 24-hour Melbourne-to-Toulouse flight
A specially adapted Airbus A350-1000ULR completed a 24-hour, 24-minute test flight from Melbourne to Toulouse on July 28 as Qantas prepares nonstop Australia-Europe services.
A specially adapted Airbus A350-1000ULR landed in Toulouse on Tuesday, July 28, after flying nonstop from Melbourne for 24 hours and 24 minutes, in a test linked to Qantas’s planned ultra-long-haul services.
Airbus said the aircraft covered 23,075 kilometres over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans before reaching its factory in south-west France. The flight is believed to be the longest completed by a commercial airliner, surpassing a 22-hour, 42-minute Boeing 777-200LR flight from Hong Kong to London via the Pacific in 2005.
The aircraft is part of Qantas’s Project Sunrise programme, which is intended to connect Australia’s east coast directly with London and New York. Qantas has ordered 12 modified A350-1000ULR jets, each designed with additional fuel capacity and seating for 238 passengers.
The airline expects its first aircraft to be delivered in April 2027 and plans daily nonstop Sydney-London services from October 2027. Expected scheduled journey times are about 19 to 21 hours, depending on winds and routing.
Tuesday’s journey was a test flight rather than a regular passenger service. Further certification, aircraft deliveries and operational preparations will be required before Qantas begins the planned routes.
