Qantas has officially confirmed that Project Sunrise will launch in October 2027. The service will operate the world’s longest scheduled commercial flight—approximately 22 hours between Sydney and London Heathrow aboard specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft.
The airline will run daily nonstop service covering 16,995 kilometres. Ticket sales begin in February 2027. The first aircraft to be built, a specially configured A350-1000ULR with registration F-WZNK, completed its maiden flight from Toulouse-Blagnac on June 2, 2026, kicking off a two-month certification campaign to clear the ultra-long-range variant for commercial operations.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson described the achievement as the culmination of an 80-year journey: “Since we first flew the Kangaroo Route in 1947, where we stopped seven times on the way to London, every generation of aircraft has taken a stop out of the journey. Today, we’re taking out the last one.”
The Aircraft — Ultra-Long-Range Engineering
The A350-1000ULR is a significant departure from standard Airbus specs. It incorporates a Rear Centre Tank (RCT) carrying an additional 20,000 litres of fuel, structural reinforcements to support increased maximum takeoff weight, and systems optimized for flights exceeding 20 hours. Airbus doesn’t officially brand the variant as “ULR”—Qantas uses the designation to distinguish it from standard A350-1000 aircraft already flying with other carriers.
The first aircraft to be delivered to Qantas, named Vega, arrives in April 2027, six months before commercial launch. The airline has ordered 12 A350-1000ULRs for Project Sunrise, with each aircraft named after stars and constellations—honouring the wartime Catalina flying boats that inspired the project name.
The cabin seats 238 passengers. That’s the lowest density of any A350-1000 in service, and it prioritizes passenger well-being on ultra-long-haul routes. Six First Class suites feature 2-metre flat beds, 52 Business suites include sliding doors for privacy, 40 Premium Economy seats offer ample space, and 140 Economy seats provide 33-inch pitch. A dedicated Wellbeing Zone between Premium Economy and Economy includes stretch handles, guided exercise programs, and hydration stations.
Cabin Innovation — Circadian Rhythm Design
The lighting system runs 12 programmable scenes—”Sunrise,” “Sunset,” “Awake”—developed with sleep science specialists from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre. The inflight entertainment system syncs with cabin lighting, meal service, and rest periods, allowing passengers to customize their journey around biological needs rather than clock time.
Qantas has negotiated access to 500 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel annually from 2028. That volume is sufficient to meet up to 90 percent of the airline’s fuel requirements.
The Record — Surpassing Singapore Airlines
Project Sunrise displaces Singapore Airlines’ New York–Singapore A350-900ULR service (15,349 kilometres) as the world’s longest commercial route. The 22-hour flight duration is the longest passenger flight ever certified for regular scheduled operations.
This marks the first scheduled nonstop service on the London–Sydney routing. A Qantas 747-400 completed a special demonstration flight on this route on August 16, 1989—17,039 kilometres in 20 hours, 9 minutes—setting a distance record for a commercial aircraft.
What’s Next
The second A350-1000ULR has reached advanced final assembly. Early aircraft will operate shorter and medium-haul routes while crews and ground staff transition to the type. An initial Auckland deployment is planned before Sydney–London service begins. A Sydney–New York nonstop route is also confirmed to follow.
No competing airline operates or has ordered the A350-1000ULR. That gives Qantas exclusive access to this aircraft type for the foreseeable future.
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