Airbus A350-1000ULR Sets Record for Longest Nonstop Commercial Flight
An Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft for Qantas flew nonstop for 12,503 nautical miles (23,155 km) from Melbourne to Toulouse on 27–28 July 2026.
The test flight was conducted as part of Project Sunrise. The aircraft departed Melbourne on 27 July at 17:27 local time and landed in Toulouse on 28 July at 09:51. The flight distance was 12,503 nautical miles, or 23,155 kilometers.
After takeoff, the aircraft passed over Sydney, crossed the Pacific Ocean toward Los Angeles, then traversed North America and the Atlantic Ocean. The last major landmark on the route was London. Thus, the flight covered three continents and two oceans, and the crew witnessed two sunsets and two sunrises.
Onboard were 13 individuals—pilots, engineers, and a representative from the International Aeronautical Federation. Independent verification of the flight data was conducted by the International Aeronautical Federation and Flightradar24.
According to Flightradar24, 3,652,947 people tracked the flight in real time. This was the second most-watched flight in the platform's history.
The record-breaking range was achieved thanks to an additional central fuel tank in the rear of the fuselage. It increases the range of the standard Airbus A350-1000 by 1,000 nautical miles.
The launch of the nonstop route between Sydney and London is expected in October 2027.
