Airbus launches 22-hour A350 test flight, advancing Qantas Project Sunrise

Airbus launched a nonstop test flight of the A350-1000 Ultra Long Range (ULR) aircraft. The jet departed Toulouse, France, on July 23. The flight involves a 22-hour journey to Melbourne, Australia. This mission covers approximately 17,000 kilometers.

The flight serves as a critical milestone in the certification program for ultra-long-haul operations. Qantas ordered 12 A350-1000ULR jets in 2022 to support its Project Sunrise initiative.

Project Sunrise aims to establish nonstop connections between Australia’s east coast and cities like London and New York. To achieve these distances, the aircraft features an increased maximum takeoff weight and an additional fuel tank.