Photo: Qantas An Airbus A350-1000ULR has completed one of the longest flights ever undertaken by a commercial aircraft, spending more than 24 hours in the air on a nonstop journey from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France.
The aircraft, developed as part of the partnership between Airbus and Qantas for Project Sunrise, landed in Toulouse on July 28, 2026, after flying continuously for 24 hours and 24 minutes. According to Airbus, the flight covered 12,460 nautical miles, equivalent to approximately 23,076 kilometers.
The milestone comes just a few days after the same aircraft completed another landmark journey, flying nonstop from Toulouse to Melbourne as part of Airbus and Qantas' Project Sunrise testing program.
The most recent marathon journey was carried out by the first Airbus A350-1000ULR test aircraft, registered F-WULR, which is currently undergoing certification and performance testing ahead of its eventual delivery to Qantas. The Australian airline has ordered 12 of the ultra-long-range jets to launch nonstop services from Sydney to London and New York under its long-anticipated Project Sunrise initiative.
Airbus shared the milestone on social media, writing that the aircraft had arrived home in Toulouse following its direct flight from Melbourne. The achievement immediately attracted attention from aviation enthusiasts around the world, with thousands tracking the aircraft's progress in real time on flight tracking websites.
The journey ranks among the longest ever completed by a commercial airliner and highlights the capabilities of the A350-1000ULR.
Project Sunrise is scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2027, potentially ushering in a new era of nonstop global travel where journeys that once required multiple connections can be completed in a single flight.