Qantas tests new ultra-long-range Airbus in 17,000km direct flight from France to Melbourne

A Qantas A350-1000ULR taking off from Toulouse on a previous test flight. The new plane, intended for use in Project Sunrise, has a range of 10,000 nautical miles or 18,500km. Photograph: Qantas View image in fullscreen A Qantas A350-1000ULR taking off from Toulouse on a previous test flight. The new plane, intended for use in Project Sunrise, has a range of 10,000 nautical miles or 18,500km. Photograph: Qantas Qantas tests new ultra-long-range Airbus in 17,000km direct flight from France to Melbourne Airbus A350–1000ULR becomes most watched plane on flight tracking websites as Qantas tests new aircraft for its Project Sunrise Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Qantas’s new ultra long-distance aircraft is set to land on Australian soil for the first time on Friday after a 19-hour test flight from France. The Airbus A350-1000ULR, designed for Qantas to complete some of the longest commercial flights in the world , set off on a nonstop journey from Airbus’ manufacturing facility Toulouse, France on Thursday, destined for Melbourne. The planes have been designed to fly up to 22 hours non-stop for the company’s Sydney to London direct route, expected to start in October 2027. The test flight has attracted attention from transport enthusiasts, with nearly 14,000 people following its almost 17,000km path on flightradar24.com on Friday morning – the most-watched flight globally on Friday. The air traffic website indicates the flight departed Toulouse at 7.33am on Thursday, local time, scheduled to land in Melbourne at 10.30am, local time. View image in fullscreen Flightradar24 showing the route of a non-stop test flight from Toulouse to Melbourne of a new Qantas Airbus A350–1000ULR. Photograph: Flightradar24 In a statement, Qantas said four Airbus flight test pilots and five flight test engineers were operating the model’s test. They and the aircraft will stay in Melbourne over the weekend then depart for Toulouse on Monday, with two Qantas pilots joining them on board. Qantas said the plane in flight was the first of its model to take to the skies. The A350-1000ULR was first flown on 2 June, for three hours 43 minutes over France and the French Atlantic Coast, and has since undergone extensive testing. The test model is not carrying Qantas’ official white and red livery. It has a tan exterior carrying company branding, with Qantas logos on its wingtips. The company said the first A350-1000ULR painted in the Qantas livery, named Vega, is still on the assembly line and will be delivered to Qantas in April 2027. skip past newsletter promotion after newsletter promotion The A350–1000ULR’s extra 20,000-litre fuel tank enables it to fly ultra long-haul routes of almost 10,000 nautical miles (18,500km), according to Airbus . Qantas in June said it was buying 12 aircraft with 238 seats rather than the 300-plus seats on other A350-1000 models. Qantas’s Project Sunrise plans for non