The Airbus A350-1000ULR has hit a major milestone in its development with a spectacular test flight that took it to Australia for the first time. The aircraft flew non-stop from Toulouse to Melbourne, covering nearly 17,000 kilometres in just over 19 hours.
The test flight generated worldwide excitement. At one point, more than 67,000 people were tracking the aircraft's trajectory live on FlightRadar24, making the prototype the most-watched plane on the planet. Designed for Qantas' Project Sunrise programme, this particular model is fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank, allowing it to fly distances of up to 18,500 kilometres.
For this first flight to Australia, the aircraft was operated entirely by Airbus pilots and engineers. The return leg to France will include two Qantas pilots on board to keep testing the systems essential for ultra-long-haul operations, from fuel transfer and air conditioning to flight management procedures on journeys lasting nearly 20 hours.
The prototype still sports Airbus's beige test livery, with only Qantas logos on the wingtips. The first aircraft fully painted in the Australian airline's colours, named Vega, is due in April 2027. Qantas plans to launch its Project Sunrise commercial flights in October 2027, with direct services between Sydney and London that could last up to 22 hours.
With this successful test flight, Airbus has demonstrated the ability of its A350-1000ULR to push back the frontiers of air travel. This will mark a major step that opens the way for a new generation of non-stop flights linking Australia with Europe and North America.
