Qantas is testing its Airbus A350-1000ULR as part of the airline’s Project Sunrise plan for ultra long-haul routes. Multiple reports describe the aircraft undertaking a major nonstop trial from Airbus’s facility in Toulouse, France, to Melbourne, Australia. The test flight is described as a marathon journey lasting roughly 19 to 20 hours, with the aircraft flying about 17,000 km directly.
The Airbus A350-1000ULR is specifically configured for very long-distance commercial missions, and Qantas uses such trials to validate performance and operational readiness ahead of future service plans. One report notes the aircraft is generating significant visibility on flight tracking websites during the flight, reflecting strong public and aviation interest.
The aircraft’s arrival in Australia is also presented as an early milestone toward the broader Project Sunrise ambitions, with the test flight serving as a step in the broader process of bringing the new ultra long-range capability into Qantas’s planned network.
