Qantas Airlines has announced that it will soon integrate Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft into its fleet, capable of operating flights lasting up to 22 hours non-stop, for its “Project Sunrise“.
According to The New York Post, this means that Qantas aircraft will be able to fly from Sydney, Australia to New York without needing to stop along the way. Its first inaugural test flight is already scheduled to take place in the coming days.
The name “Project Sunrise” is a tribute to the historic “Double Sunrise” endurance flights operated by Qantas, which remained airborne long enough to witness two sunrises during World War II.
“The first Airbus A350-1000ULR rolled out of the hangar in Toulouse this week, with its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines installed and ready to begin final ground checks and a two-month flight test campaign,” the company said in the caption of an Instagram post.
“Starting next year, these aircraft will take our customers non-stop from Sydney to London and New York for the first time, reducing travel time by up to four hours,” Qantas added, also announcing that “its first test flight is approaching.”
The Project Sunrise is expected to take the crown from the 19-hour and 20-minute flight operated by Xiamen Air from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) in southern China, becoming the longest non-stop flight in the world.
According to Qantas, its 22-hour flights from Australia’s east coast to the east coast of the United States, as well as to London, are made possible by an additional 20,000-liter rear center fuel tank and enhanced systems.
In a recent press release, Qantas also highlighted that the aircraft includes premium features “designed around passenger comfort and well-being for ultra-long-haul operations.”
With a capacity of 238 passengers, the ergonomically designed Project Sunrise cabin includes six first-class suites, 52 business-class suites, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats.
It also features a “Wellbeing Zone,” located between the Economy and Premium Economy cabins, serving as a shared space where passengers can socialize and help themselves to a selection of refreshments.
The first of the 12 new aircraft is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2026, with the first commercial Project Sunrise services expected to begin in the first half of 2027.
“This is something everyone at Qantas has been waiting for a long time. But not just Qantas employees,” said Vanessa Hudson, CEO of the Qantas Group, last year.
“This will be an aircraft that can truly fly farther than any other in the world and connect our continent directly to London and New York, making it something remarkable for the nation as a whole.”
Photos: Qantas Airlines. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
