Qantas’ Project Sunrise Airbus has completed its maiden test flight

Qantas’ Project Sunrise aircraft has taken to the skies in France for its maiden test flight.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Airbus A350 completed its first flight from Toulouse, flying for three hours and 43 minutes over France and the French Atlantic Coast.

The Project Sunrise route aims to connect Australia’s east coast to London and New York – a distance of almost 10,000 nautical miles – by non-stop commercial flight, for the first time.

The London link will be the longest passenger flight in the world in terms of direct distance.

Operated by two Airbus flight test pilots, Thomas Wilhelm and Anthony Flynn, together with test flight engineer Laurent Rossignol, the flight trialled the aircraft’s primary systems, including the jet's specialised fuel system.

The airline has ordered a dozen specially configured Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, each fitted with an additional 20,000 litre fuel tank, enabling them to fly for 22 hours without refuelling.

The maiden test flight marks the start of two months of testing. The aircraft will complete 80 hours of flight testing and on-ground checks to confirm the A350 can fly ultra-long-haul journeys.

Qantas added that a second aircraft is “progressing through Airbus’ final assembly line” to fly the route.

All future Project Sunrise Airbus A350 aircraft will be fitted with a new galley air cooling system, which features lighter and more efficient refrigeration units.

The aircraft will also offer only 238 seats, less than half the maximum. Passengers will get more space, and with fewer on board, the plane’s weight will be lower.

According to Qantas, this aircraft will arrive in April 2027.

The airline will announce the first Project Sunrise route and the timing of inaugural commercial services later in June.

Read more: Project Sunrise: All you need to know about the Qantas London-Sydney nonstop flight