TOULOUSE– Airbus has secured a Guinness World Record for the longest flight by distance by a commercial airliner after its A350-1000ULR completed a non-stop test flight from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) on July 27 and 28, 2026.
The Airbus-operated flight covered 12,503 nautical miles (23,155 kilometres) in 24 hours and 24 minutes. The ultra-long-range aircraft is being developed for Qantas Airways (QF) under Project Sunrise, which aims to connect Sydney with London and New York through non-stop flights.
Airbus A350-1000ULR Completes Record-Breaking Test Flight
Airbus operated the record-setting flight under the callsign AIB35LR as part of the A350-1000ULR flight test campaign. The aircraft departed Melbourne at 5:27 pm local time on Monday, July 27, and arrived in Toulouse at 9:51 am local time on Tuesday, July 28.
The aircraft travelled 12,503 nautical miles, equivalent to approximately 23,155 kilometres, during the journey. The flight lasted 24 hours and 24 minutes, demonstrating the aircraft’s endurance and long-range capabilities.
The flight also formed part of Airbus’ efforts to meet Qantas’ requirements for Project Sunrise. The manufacturer had to operate a sector with a block time of 23 hours, measured from aircraft pushback at departure until arrival at the parking position.
The test was designed to simulate the operational demands of the longest commercial flights that Qantas plans to introduce with the A350-1000ULR.
Aircraft Crosses Three Continents and Two Oceans
After departing Melbourne, the aircraft flew over Sydney before heading northeast across the Pacific Ocean towards Los Angeles. It crossed the International Date Line before continuing over the North American continent.
The aircraft then crossed the Atlantic Ocean, headed south towards the United Kingdom, flew over London and continued to Toulouse in southwestern France.
During the journey, the aircraft crossed three continents and two oceans. The extended flight also allowed the crew to witness two sunsets and two sunrises.
Thirteen People Participated in the Record Flight
A total of 13 people were on board the A350-1000ULR during the record-setting flight. The team included three Airbus flight test pilots, two Qantas pilots, five Airbus flight test engineers, two Airbus design engineers and one representative of the International Aeronautical Federation.
The Airbus flight test pilots were Xavier Pepin, Vincent Sibelle and Josef Bayoud. Qantas was represented by Captain Andrew Coull and Captain David Summergreene.
The Airbus engineering team included Laurent Rossignol and Nicolas Granier as test flight engineers, alongside flight test engineers Tuan Do, Alexia Plumet and Jaime Angoloti.
Airbus design engineers Stefan Gumm and Carsten Obermann also participated in the flight, while Gilles Darriau represented the International Aeronautical Federation.
Airbus Highlights A350-1000ULR Achievement
Lars Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, described the record as an important achievement for the manufacturer and its Project Sunrise partnership with Qantas.
He said the flight had fully demonstrated the A350-1000ULR’s ability to undertake extremely long commercial journeys while maintaining an efficient operating model.
Wagner also acknowledged the contributions of Qantas, Rolls-Royce and other partners involved in developing the aircraft.
How Airbus Extended the A350-1000ULR’s Range
The A350-1000ULR is a specialised version of the standard A350-1000, designed to support ultra-long-haul operations from Australia’s east coast to major international destinations.
One of its most important modifications is an additional Rear Centre Tank (RCT) integrated into the aircraft’s structure.
The tank provides approximately 20,000 litres of additional fuel capacity and extends the standard A350-1000’s range by around 1,000 nautical miles.
The aircraft also features an increased maximum take-off weight and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. These modifications allow it to operate routes approaching 10,000 nautical miles with flight times of up to 22 hours.
The additional fuel capacity also provides the necessary range for diversion requirements at the end of long-haul journeys.
Qantas Project Sunrise: Sydney to London and New York
Qantas ordered 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs under Project Sunrise to introduce non-stop flights between Australia’s east coast and major international destinations.
The airline plans to launch daily non-stop services between Sydney and London from October 2027. These flights will operate as QF1 and QF2, marking the first time Qantas will connect the two cities without an intermediate stop.
The first aircraft, named Vega, is scheduled for delivery in April 2027. Qantas plans to sell tickets for the Sydney-London service from February 2027.
The airline’s Sydney-New York non-stop service is expected to follow from mid-2028, with tickets scheduled to go on sale from August 2027.
Each Project Sunrise A350-1000ULR will accommodate 238 passengers across four cabins:
| Cabin | Seats |
|---|---|
| First Class | 6 |
| Business Class | 52 |
| Premium Economy | 40 |
| Economy Class | 140 |
| Total | 238 |
The configuration gives more than 40% of the aircraft’s seats to premium cabins. Qantas has also designed a dedicated Wellbeing Zone between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins to allow passengers to stretch, hydrate and move around during the extremely long journeys.
In addition to the 12 A350-1000ULRs, Qantas has ordered another 12 standard A350-1000 aircraft for its future long-haul network.
Airbus A350 Family Continues to Expand
The A350-1000ULR is the fourth passenger variant of the Airbus A350 family. The existing passenger line-up includes the A350-900, A350-900ULR and A350-1000.
Airbus has developed the A350 family around improved fuel efficiency, reduced carbon emissions and enhanced passenger comfort for long-haul operations.
At the end of October 2026, the A350 family had accumulated 1,628 orders from 70 customers. More than 740 aircraft were already operating with 42 airlines worldwide, primarily on long-haul routes.
The family is also expanding into the cargo market through the A350F freighter. The aircraft completed its maiden flight on September 29, 2026, beginning a planned nine-month flight test campaign.
The A350-1000ULR’s record-setting journey marks another milestone in Airbus’ long-range aircraft development programme. It also brings Qantas closer to introducing non-stop flights between Australia and Europe and North America under Project Sunrise.
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