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Airbus A350-1000ULR completes 24-hour test flight for Qantas ultra-long-haul routes
Key points
- Airbus A350-1000ULR flew 24 hours, 25 minutes from Melbourne to Toulouse.
- The flight covered 12,460 nautical miles.
- Aircraft developed for Qantas' Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul routes.
- Qantas plans nonstop Sydney to New York/London flights by 2027.
Record-Setting Test Flight Completed
A new Airbus A350-1000ULR passenger jet successfully completed an ultra-long test flight, flying nonstop for 24 hours and 25 minutes. The flight departed from Melbourne, Australia, on July 27 and landed in Toulouse, France, on July 28. This journey covered a total distance of 12,460 nautical miles, traversing the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and North America.
Development for Qantas Project Sunrise
The Airbus A350-1000ULR was specifically developed for Qantas Airways' Project Sunrise. This initiative aims to establish the world's longest nonstop commercial flights, connecting Sydney with New York or London. Qantas has placed an order for a dozen of these new airliners, with plans to begin offering tickets for these routes in 2027.
Aircraft Capabilities
To facilitate such extended range flights, the Airbus A350-1000ULR is equipped with an additional rear center fuel tank. This tank can carry 20,900 liters (5,521 gallons) of fuel, extending the aircraft's range by 1,000 nautical miles. This capability ensures the aircraft can cover the nearly 10,000 nautical miles required for the planned nonstop flights between Sydney and its target destinations.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
A new Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft completed a 24-hour, 25-minute test flight from Melbourne to Toulouse, setting a record for the longest test flight. This development supports Qantas Airways' Project Sunrise, which aims to launch nonstop commercial flights between Sydney and New York or London starting in 2027.