Airbus completes A350-1000ULR’s longest-ever test flight for Qantas’ Project Sunrise

Airbus has successfully completed the longest development flight ever performed by an A350-1000ULR, as part of the flight-test programme for Qantas’ Project Sunrise, which will introduce non-stop services from Australia to Europe and North America from 2027.

The specially instrumented test aircraft, MSN707, flew from Toulouse to Melbourne on 23 July before returning a few days later, completing a record-breaking 12,460-nautical-mile (23,076 km) journey from Melbourne back to Toulouse in 24 hours and 24 minutes. The return flight exceeded the duration of the planned commercial Project Sunrise services, providing additional operational margin.

Unlike certification flights, the mission was conducted as a development test to demonstrate the aircraft’s ability to support a 23-hour block time—the total time from leaving the departure stand to arriving at the destination gate. This exceeds the expected commercial flight time of around 21 hours and 40 minutes, allowing for taxiing, holding and potential diversions.

The aircraft’s primary test objectives focused on validating cabin comfort and fuel management during ultra-long-haul operations. Engineers monitored air conditioning performance throughout the cabin while also evaluating the operation of the aircraft’s additional 20,900-litre rear centre fuel tank, a key modification that extends the A350-1000ULR’s range to almost 10,000 nautical miles.

The mission also tested a newly developed twin Flight Crew Rest Compartment, designed specifically for ultra-long-range operations. The separate resting areas allow pilots to enter and leave their accommodation independently, reducing disturbances during long missions. However, because the new compartment was heavily instrumented for testing, the flight crew instead used the aircraft’s cabin crew rest area during the flights.

The return flight also allowed Qantas to familiarise two of its A350-qualified pilots with the ULR variant. They joined three Airbus test pilots, while Airbus retained operational responsibility for the mission. Pilots worked in overlapping shifts to manage fatigue, with four-hour duty periods and crew changes every two hours to ensure continuous situational awareness.

According to Airbus, the successful flights mark another important milestone in the development of the A350-1000ULR, which has been customised for Qantas’ ambitious Project Sunrise programme. Once the aircraft enters service in 2027, it will enable the airline to operate some of the world’s longest non-stop commercial flights, including routes linking Sydney with London and New York.