Qantas has pushed back Project Sunrise again. The airline won’t receive its first Airbus A350-1000ULR until April 2027—four months later than planned and marking the third delay since locking in the order for 12 ultra-long-range jets back in 2023.
The announcement came on May 25, 2026. It means the world’s longest commercial nonstop flights between Sydney, London, and New York will launch later than expected. Qantas said in a statement: “We continue to work closely with Airbus on the delivery and certification process that will enable us to begin operating these history-making ultra long-haul flights.”
The first A350-1000ULR—manufacturer serial number 707, registered as F-WZNK in France—wrapped up final assembly at Airbus’s Toulouse facility in April 2026. By mid-April, its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines were installed. By late April, the aircraft moved into painting and cabin work, with a two-month flight test program ahead to validate the modified fuel system. That system needs to handle flights up to 22 hours long.
Technical Foundation for Ultra-Long-Range Operations
The A350-1000ULR is built for distance. A rear center tank adds 20,000 liters of fuel capacity. Structural reinforcements and a higher maximum takeoff weight complete the package—all designed specifically for Qantas’s route network. The aircraft will connect Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) to London-Heathrow (LHR) and New York JFK, covering nearly 10,000 nautical miles in roughly 22 hours per leg.
But it’s the cabin that sets this plane apart. Qantas prioritized passenger wellbeing over cramming in seats. The 238-seat configuration spreads across four classes: six first-class seats in 1-1-1, 52 business-class seats in 1-2-1, 40 premium economy seats in 2-4-2, and 140 economy seats in 3-3-3. Economy passengers get 33 inches of pitch—more legroom than what competitors offer on comparable widebody aircraft.
Sleep scientists at the Charles Perkins Centre and industrial designer David Caon shaped the cabin design, pulling insights from three research flights Qantas ran in 2019. A dedicated space at the heart of the plane designed for movement, stretching and hydration includes a self-serve snack station and digital displays. HEPA filters refresh cabin air every 2–3 minutes and strip out 99.9 percent of particles.
Recovery Timeline and Route Announcement
The delay hits the first aircraft, but the next four should arrive in rapid succession. By November 2027, Qantas expects to hit its original operational schedule. Pilot training is already underway at the airline’s new A350 simulator in Sydney. The first route and the timing of the initial flights will be announced in June 2026.
Qantas needs at least three A350-1000ULRs before launching daily service on either route. The carrier ordered 12 additional standard A350-1000 aircraft—long-range but not ultra-long-range—in a separate configuration, expanding its widebody replacement effort.
Industry-Wide Supply Chain Strain
Airbus blamed the delay primarily on supply chain disruptions rippling through aviation manufacturing. Securing regulatory approval for the additional fuel tank proved trickier than standard supply delays. In June 2024, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority cleared the fuel tank design, removing one regulatory hurdle.
Qantas isn’t alone. Singapore Airlines’ A350-900ULR retrofit program also missed its Q2 2026 target. That program now expects service entry in Q1 2027 due to supply chain constraints and seat product certification issues.
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