On April 12, Airbus rolled out the first A350-1000 Ultra Long Range destined for Qantas — registration F-WZNK, Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines already installed — the aircraft that will finally make Project Sunrise’s nonstop Sydney–London and Sydney–New York routes a reality. Commercial service is now targeted for March 2027.
The rollout at Airbus’ Toulouse facility marks the handoff from final assembly to a two-month flight test program. Engineers will focus on systems evaluation and certification of the aircraft’s defining modification: an additional 20,000-liter center-rear fuel tank that stretches total endurance to roughly 22 hours. The program has slipped from an original 2025 entry-into-service target — pushed back to 2026 in early 2024, and now to 2027 — due to COVID-19, supply chain constraints affecting Airbus production, delays in construction of the aircraft, manufacture of bespoke interiors, and the certification of the supplemental fuel tank by European regulators. Qantas placed its firm order for 12 A350-1000ULRs back in May 2022.
What Makes This Aircraft Different
The A350-1000ULR isn’t an Airbus product designation. It’s an operational label Qantas applies to what is, technically, an A350-1000 with structural and systems modifications to handle the extra fuel load, plus an increased maximum takeoff weight that lets it carry more fuel than earlier -1000 variants. Incremental aerodynamic refinements accumulated across the broader A350 program also factor in.
Singapore Airlines operates the A350-900ULR on its Singapore–New York service — currently the world’s longest nonstop passenger route. That aircraft achieves its extended range through increased fuel capacity made possible by relocating sensors in the fuel system, gaining roughly 1,200 nautical miles over a standard -900. Qantas’ -1000ULR can stay airborne for up to two hours longer still, despite the two types sharing the same published range figure on paper.
Sydney–London spans 10,573 miles. Both Project Sunrise routes will exceed 20 hours of scheduled flight time — displacing Singapore’s New York service as the longest nonstop passenger flights ever operated.
The Cabin Configuration
Qantas has configured F-WZNK for 238 passengers across four classes: 6 First suites, 52 Business suites with sliding doors, 40 Premium Economy seats, and 140 Economy seats. That’s the lowest total seat count of any A350-1000 in airline service today, with more than 40 percent of seats sitting in premium cabins.
Economy gets a 33-inch seat pitch — one inch more than Qantas’ A380 and 787 configurations — along with individual screens and Bluetooth audio. Between Premium Economy and Economy sits a dedicated Wellbeing Zone with stretch handles, guided on-screen exercise programs, a hydration station, and a range of refreshments. The cabin lighting system runs 12 programmable scenes — “Sunrise,” “Sunset,” and “Awake” among them — developed around circadian-rhythm science in collaboration with industrial designer David Caon and sleep science specialists from the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney.
“These flights will cut up to four hours off the journey and transform how people experience ultra long-haul travel through science-backed design to minimise jetlag and maximise wellbeing.” — Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson
The project name itself is a tribute to Qantas’ wartime “Double Sunrise” Catalina flights between Perth and Sri Lanka — missions so long the crew witnessed two sunrises. All 12 aircraft in the fleet will be named after stars or constellations, echoing the original Catalinas named Antares, Arcturus, Rigel, and Spica. The naming concept was originally suggested by Qantas pilots and later selected by thousands of employees. The first aircraft’s name is expected to be announced by mid-2026.
What Happens Next
Delivery to Qantas is scheduled for October 2026. The aircraft will first operate shorter and medium-haul routes — including an early Auckland deployment — while crews and ground staff get up to speed on the type. Sydney–London nonstop service is confirmed for March 2027, with Sydney–New York to follow as the remaining 11 aircraft arrive through 2028.
No competing airline is chasing Qantas on either city pair. The carrier holds the only orders for the A350-1000ULR in existence. F-WZNK will continue through its test program in the coming months; we’ll report on delivery once Qantas takes possession later this year.
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