Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.Australia's Qantas has completed a major milestone in its ambitious Project Sunrise programme after its first customised Airbus A350-1000ULR test aircraft landed in Melbourne on Friday morning following a non-stop flight from France. The aircraft covered nearly 17,000 km in 19 hours and 13 minutes, marking one of the longest commercial aircraft test flights ever undertaken and bringing the airline closer to launching the world's longest scheduled non-stop passenger services in October 2027.
Testing Special Fuel System
The aircraft departed Airbus' facility in Toulouse at 7:33 am local time on Thursday before touching down in Melbourne after an endurance flight designed primarily to validate its modified fuel system.
Unlike a standard A350-1000, the aircraft is fitted with an additional 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank, allowing it to remain airborne for up to 22 hours. The flight carried four Airbus test pilots and five flight-test engineers.
Key highlights of the test mission:
- Flight duration: 19 hours 13 minutes
- Distance covered: Around 17,000 km
- Extra 20,000-litre fuel tank installed
- Return flight to Toulouse planned with Qantas and Airbus crews
Direct London, New York Services Planned
Qantas first unveiled Project Sunrise in 2017 and formally ordered 12 specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft in 2022. While the first aircraft was originally expected this year, delivery has now been pushed to April 2027, with the remaining 11 aircraft scheduled over the following two-and-a-half years.
The airline plans to open ticket sales for its Sydney-London non-stop service in February ahead of commercial operations beginning in October 2027. Direct Sydney-New York flights are expected to commence later the same year. Qantas estimates that each ultra-long-haul route will require three dedicated aircraft to maintain daily operations.
Future Expansion Beyond Sydney
Although the first test aircraft landed in Melbourne, the airline has not announced when the city will receive its own direct flights to London or New York. Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said discussions on Melbourne services will begin only after the Sydney operations are successfully established. Chief Financial Officer Rob Marcolina said Sydney has been prioritised because of its larger market demand.
Future deployment plans include:
- Initial focus on Sydney-London and Sydney-New York
- Later aircraft may operate Perth-London and Auckland-New York services
- Boeing 787 fleet could be redeployed to Chicago, Canada, South America, Athens and African destinations
Polar Route And Passenger Comfort
Qantas also revealed that around one-fifth of Sydney-London flights, particularly during the Northern Hemisphere winter, will use a unique North Polar route. Although longer on a map, the path avoids strong headwinds and congested airspace, making it faster. Aircraft will fly over the North Pacific, Alaska, Greenland and Iceland before entering London from the north. Flight times are expected to range between 19 hours 25 minutes and 20 hours 55 minutes from Sydney, while London-Sydney services will take between 18 and 20 hours.
Special Measures For Ultra-Long Flights
Passengers on Project Sunrise routes will cross up to 11 time zones on London services and as many as 16 on New York flights, increasing the risk of fatigue, jet lag and dehydration. To reduce these effects, Qantas has worked with sleep experts from the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre.
Passenger wellness initiatives include:
- Twelve customised cabin lighting settings, including sunrise and sunset effects
- Up to 12 hours of cabin darkness to encourage natural sleep
- Light, high-protein meals before rest periods
- Strategic use of spices in meals to promote alertness
- A dedicated wellness zone between Premium Economy and Economy cabins for guided stretching and movement exercises
Named after secret World War II flights during which passengers witnessed two sunrises in a single journey, Project Sunrise aims to connect Australia directly with major global destinations without stopovers, redefining the future of ultra-long-haul commercial aviation.
