The aircraft will appear on routes at the end of 2026.
Qantas has taken a decisive step towards realizing its ambitious Sunrise project, which aims to launch direct non-stop flights from Australia to London and New York. The first aircraft of the program, the Airbus A350-1000ULR (serial number F-WZNK, MSN 707), has been assembled at the factory in Toulouse. Its delivery is scheduled for the end of 2026.
The A350-1000ULR will become the longest-range passenger aircraft in Qantas history, capable of staying in the air for up to 22 hours. To achieve this, Airbus engineers have equipped it with an additional central fuel tank with a capacity of 20,000 liters.
The first unit is already almost fully assembled: the main fuselage sections have been joined, and the wing, tailplane, and landing gear have been installed. In the coming days, the aircraft will be moved to a hangar for the installation of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and preparation for initial testing.
The interior of the aircraft is designed for just 238 passengers — significantly fewer than standard A350s. This decision was made for comfort: the space between seats has been increased, and a "health zone" has been provided between the Premium Economy and Economy classes, where passengers can stretch during the record-long flight.
The Sunrise project will mark the beginning of a new era in commercial aviation for Qantas: for the first time, Australia will have direct air links with the world's largest megacities — without transfers and intermediate stops. The airline has ordered a total of 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs, which will fulfill the dream of truly continuous travel "from end to end of the world."
