Spotted: Qantas Airways’ 1st Airbus A350‑1000ULR for Project Sunrise takes shape in Toulouse
November 7, 2025
Qantas Airways has confirmed that its Airbus A350-1000ULR, designated for the “Project Sunrise” programme, is now on the assembly line at Airbus’ facility in Toulouse—a key milestone in the carrier’s plan to operate nonstop ultra-long-haul flights from Australia to London and New York.
Key airframe components—including forward, centre and rear fuselage sections—have been joined, and the wings, tail section and landing gear are in place. The aircraft will shortly move to a new hangar for the installation of engines and flight test equipment, ahead of an extensive test-flight programme beginning in 2026.
These specially configured A350-1000ULRs will operate nonstop flights of up to 22 hours, connecting Australia’s east coast to the UK and US for the first time, saving up to four hours of travel time versus one-stop alternatives.
The “Project Sunrise” name pays homage to Qantas’s historic “Double Sunrise” WWII flights, which stayed airborne long enough to see two sunrises.
Qantas’ Project Sunrise goes from concept to reality
Qantas first announced plans for Project Sunrise in 2017. It conducted test flights to research the physical impact of ultra-long-haul travel on passengers and crew, and to design a cabin experience suited to flights that will require nearly a day in the air. While Airbus and Boeing both competed to supply the aircraft for the extra-long journey, Qantas ultimately placed a firm order for 12 Airbus A350-1000s in May 2022.
The Airbus A350-1000ULR for Project Sunrise features an additional 20,000-litre rear-centre fuel tank, enabling the 22-hour mission.
The fleet will be configured to 238 passengers (rather than 300+ typical configurations), optimising space and comfort for ultra-long flights.
Cabin design was developed in collaboration with industrial designer David Caon and sleep-science specialists at the Charles Perkins Centre (University of Sydney), based on learnings from the test flights. The airline has included a wellness zone providing exercise/stretch facilities, hydration stations, and specialised lighting to combat jet lag.
Qantas’ Project Sunrise helps Australia overcome “the tyranny of distance”
Passengers who will travel on the new nonstop connections from Australia’s east coast to London and New York—the world’s longest commercial flights by distance—can expect a cabin built from the ground up for ultra-long-haul journeys with more individual space and more comfortable conditions in all classes.
“Given Australia’s position in the world, Qantas has a long history of breaking aviation barriers. Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world,” said Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson. “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.”
With the A350-1000ULR now physically coming together on the Toulouse line, Qantas’s Project Sunrise is moving from vision to reality. The aircraft will finally enter service in the first half of 2027, a decade after the airline first announced its plans. The ten years of research and development have set the stage for a new era of ultra-long-haul travel.
Featured Image: Qantas
