Photo: Qantas Yesterday, July 23, 2026, Airbus began another major milestone in the development of ultra-long-haul air travel, with the launch of the first nonstop flight from Toulouse, France, to Melbourne, Australia, as part of the A350-1000ULR flight test campaign.
The nearly 17,000-kilometer journey was designed to evaluate the performance of the Airbus A350-1000 Ultra Long Range variant, the aircraft that will power Qantas' highly anticipated Project Sunrise services beginning next year.
According to flight tracking data, the aircraft departed Toulouse at 7:33 a.m. local time and was expected to arrive in Melbourne at approximately 9:18 a.m. local time the following day after spending more than 20 hours in the air. The Airbus A350-1000ULR has touched down in Australia "for the first time", announced Qantas today, July 24, 2026.
"This journey is part of its two-month flight testing campaign, with the aircraft flying directly from Toulouse to Melbourne in 19 hours and 12 minutes," the airline further added.
The test flight represents another important step toward a new era of commercial aviation. Once certified and delivered, the A350-1000ULR will allow Qantas to operate the world's longest scheduled passenger flights.
Qantas plans to launch nonstop flights between Sydney and London in 2027, followed by Sydney and New York. Both routes are currently impossible to operate nonstop with the airline's existing fleet and will dramatically reduce travel times for passengers flying to and from Australia.
"The first aircraft, named Vega, will be delivered in April 2027. From October 2027, Qantas will operate daily non-stop flights between Sydney and London, with tickets going on sale in February 2027," according to Qantas.
Project Sunrise, first unveiled by Qantas several years ago, aims to eliminate the need for stopovers on some of the world's longest journeys. The airline has ordered an additional 12 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft specifically configured for these missions, featuring premium cabins, dedicated wellness areas, and fewer seats than traditional long-haul aircraft to maximize comfort on flights lasting more than 20 hours.
The ongoing flight test campaign is expected to evaluate a range of factors, including aircraft performance, fuel efficiency, systems reliability, and operational procedures under ultra-long haul conditions.
The A350-1000ULR is based on Airbus' flagship A350 family but incorporates modifications designed to extend its range significantly. Airbus says the aircraft will help airlines open new city pairs that were previously considered commercially unviable.