Quick summary
The Airbus A350-1000ULR (MSN 707) — the first of 12 aircraft ordered by Qantas for Project Sunrise — has completed its maiden flight from Toulouse, France, marking the start of a two-month certification campaign for the modified fuel and systems architecture that will enable nonstop Sydney–London and Sydney–New York service. The aircraft flew for 3 hours 43 minutes, reaching just above 41,000 feet, with Airbus test crews validating the new rear centre tank and galley cooling systems. First commercial delivery is scheduled for April 2027.
Certification of the modified fuel system by EASA remains the critical gating item before Qantas can open ticket sales. The second A350-1000ULR — the actual first delivery aircraft — is already in advanced final assembly in Toulouse.
Aviation history moved one step closer to reality recently when the world’s longest-range commercial jet lifted off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport for the first time. The Airbus A350-1000ULR, purpose-built for Qantas‘ Project Sunrise, completed its maiden flight on 2 June 2026 — a milestone that transforms a decade of engineering ambition into a flying machine that will eventually carry passengers nonstop from Sydney to London, roughly 10,000 nautical miles and up to 22 hours without a single stop.
For Australian travelers, this is the moment Project Sunrise stops being a concept and becomes a countdown.
The test aircraft, MSN 707, is not the jet that will carry the first paying passengers — that honor belongs to the second airframe, currently finishing final assembly in Toulouse and on track for April 2027 delivery. MSN 707’s job is to prove the engineering: a two-month campaign will certify the additional Rear Centre Tank (RCT) that extends range by around 1,000 nautical miles, alongside a new galley air cooling system and upgraded cabin ventilation architecture designed specifically for 20-plus-hour missions.
Qantas holds orders for 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft under Project Sunrise, plus a separate order for 12 standard A350-1000s for its broader long-haul network. Once deliveries ramp up, the carrier will hold the hardware to operate multiple ultra-long-haul routes simultaneously — Sydney–London and Sydney–New York being the headline pair.
What the first flight actually confirms — and what still needs to happen
A first flight is a proof of airworthiness, not a commercial green light. The Airbus flight test crew — experimental test pilots Thomas Wilhelm and Anthony Flynn, alongside test flight engineer Laurent Rossignol — spent 3 hours 43 minutes running general performance checks and validating the new fuel system architecture. That is the easy part. The harder work is the full two-month campaign ahead, which must satisfy EASA that the RCT integration, revised fuel management logic, and new cooling systems meet certification standards for commercial operation.
Until that certification lands, no ticket sales, no schedule filing, no launch date.
The official Airbus confirmation notes that MSN 707 will be retrofitted to Qantas’ commercial specification after the test campaign concludes — meaning this aircraft enters service later than the second airframe, which is already being fitted with the premium four-class cabin layout. Qantas has previously confirmed a route announcement and inaugural service timing will follow once certification and delivery milestones are met, with the Project Sunrise delivery timeline now firmly anchored to April 2027.
| Milestone | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First flight (MSN 707) | 3 hr 43 min, 41,000+ ft, Toulouse | Completed 2 June 2026 |
| Certification campaign | Two-month EASA test program (fuel system, galley cooling, cabin ventilation) | Underway |
| First commercial delivery | Second airframe, advanced final assembly | April 2027 (scheduled) |
| Total ULR order | 12 A350-1000ULR for Project Sunrise | Confirmed |
| Additional order | 12 standard A350-1000 for wider long-haul network | Confirmed |
| Range extension (RCT) | ~1,000 nm added, reaching almost 10,000 nm total | Engineering confirmed |
| Maximum flight time | Up to 22 hours (Sydney–London / Sydney–New York) | Design specification |
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Why this matters beyond the headline number
The A350-1000ULR is the fourth passenger variant of the A350 family, and its existence required solving a problem that has defeated every previous aircraft: carrying enough fuel for a 22-hour mission without sacrificing payload to the point of commercial uselessness. The Rear Centre Tank is the engineering answer — structurally integrated, not bolted on — adding roughly 1,000 nautical miles of range to an already long-legged airframe. Airbus ran a similar playbook with the A350-900ULR, which enabled Singapore Airlines‘ nonstop New York–Singapore service from 2018. That precedent matters: the 900ULR proved ultra-long-haul economics could work at premium price points, and it has operated profitably enough that Singapore Airlines has never reversed course.
The competitive picture is more complicated. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines all operate premium one-stop products between Australia and Europe that are mature, well-regarded, and deeply embedded in corporate travel programs. They will not cede high-yield passengers without a fight. Expect upgraded soft products, aggressive business-class pricing, and loyalty incentives from Gulf and Asian carriers as Project Sunrise’s launch date approaches — which, counterintuitively, may create short-term value for travelers willing to accept a stopover.
For travelers weighing the nonstop premium against a one-stop alternative, the calculus on aircraft comfort on long-haul routes will shift considerably once the A350-1000ULR’s four-class cabin — with its dedicated wellbeing zone and circadian-rhythm meal service — enters service.
How to position yourself for Project Sunrise
EASA certification is the single gating event between today’s first flight and Qantas opening ticket sales — everything else follows from that decision, expected within roughly two months of the test campaign start.
- Monitor Qantas schedule filings from late 2026: Once EASA certifies the A350-1000ULR modifications and the April 2027 delivery stays on track, Qantas will file schedules and open bookings. Check qantas.com and ATC alerts for the announcement. Understanding how to secure new route launch fares before demand spikes is worth doing now.
- Compare nonstop versus one-stop pricing before committing for 2027–2028: Use Google Flights or ITA Matrix to benchmark Qantas nonstop fares against Gulf and Asian hub routings once both are bookable. Competitive responses from Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines may produce genuine value on one-stop premium cabins.
- Track Qantas loyalty program changes: Project Sunrise launch typically triggers Qantas Frequent Flyer point redemption opportunities and status bonuses on inaugural routes. Watch for announcements alongside the schedule filing.
- Don’t book 2027 Australia–Europe travel around the nonstop yet: April 2027 is the first delivery date, not the first commercial flight date. Build buffer into any plans that depend on nonstop availability — inaugural schedules rarely launch at full frequency.
Watch: EASA certification of the A350-1000ULR modifications — if it lands on schedule after the two-month campaign, Qantas stays on track for a 2027 Project Sunrise launch. Any slippage there flows directly into the commercial launch date and fare availability window.
Questions? Answers.
When will Qantas start selling tickets for nonstop Sydney–London flights?
Ticket sales are not open yet. The first commercial delivery of an A350-1000ULR is scheduled for April 2027, but Qantas must complete EASA certification of the aircraft’s modified fuel system first — a two-month campaign that began in early June 2026. Schedule filings and fare availability are expected to follow certification, likely in late 2026 or early 2027.
How is the A350-1000ULR different from a standard A350-1000?
The key difference is an additional Rear Centre Tank (RCT) structurally integrated into the airframe, which adds roughly 1,000 nautical miles of range and extends maximum endurance to around 22 hours. Airbus also developed a new, lighter galley cooling system and upgraded cabin ventilation architecture specifically for ultra-long missions. The cabin layout is a low-density four-class configuration with a dedicated wellbeing zone — seat counts are lower than a standard A350-1000 to support passenger comfort on 20-plus-hour sectors.
Will one-stop Sydney–London fares get cheaper once Project Sunrise launches?
Competitive pressure from a nonstop Qantas product is likely to prompt responses from Gulf and Asian carriers. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines all operate mature premium products on this corridor and have strong commercial incentives to defend market share. Historically, new ultra-long-haul route launches have triggered short-term fare competition on parallel one-stop routings — the Singapore Airlines A350-900ULR launch on New York–Singapore in 2018 produced measurable pricing responses from competing carriers within the first year.
What routes will the A350-1000ULR fly beyond Sydney–London?
Qantas has publicly identified Sydney–London and Sydney–New York as the primary Project Sunrise routes. With 12 A350-1000ULRs on order, additional ultra-long-haul destinations are possible once the initial routes are established, but no further routes have been formally announced. The separate order for 12 standard A350-1000s will cover Qantas’ broader long-haul network, distinct from the ULR-specific Project Sunrise operations.
