Airbus A350 Flies Direct to London, 24 Hours Nonstop! 'Project Sunrise' Test Flight Success: Qantas Pioneers Longest Route

Qantas plans to launch daily nonstop flights between Sydney and London starting October 2027. These routes aim to transform the historic 'Kangaroo Route,' which once required multiple stops and days of travel, into a single direct flight lasting just 19 to 21 hours. French aircraft manufacturer Airbus has completed an ultra-long test flight lasting over 24 hours. On Tuesday, July 28, an A350 passenger aircraft flew from Melbourne to France, sparking an online tracking frenzy. This test flight marks a crucial milestone for Qantas' 'Project Sunrise,' which aims to revolutionize long-haul travel by eliminating stopovers between Australia and Europe. The specially modified A350-1000ULR aircraft is scheduled to enter service on Qantas' Sydney–London route from 2027. Since June, Airbus has been conducting a two-month testing program on this aircraft model. Airbus stated that the aircraft, equipped with specially designed additional fuel tanks, flew continuously for 24 hours and 24 minutes, covering 23,075 kilometers (14,338 miles) nonstop before landing at its factory in Toulouse, France. The second most tracked flight in history, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24, this flight was the second most tracked in the platform's history—surpassed only by the 2022 flight transporting the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Over 3.6 million people tracked its journey northward over Canada. In 2005, a Boeing 777-200LR 'Worldliner' flew 21,601.7 kilometers (13,422 miles) from Hong Kong to London in 22 hours and 42 minutes. Qantas has ordered 12 modified A350-1000ULR aircraft. These aircraft are designed to connect Australia's east coast with London and New York in approximately 20 hours. These routes aim to transform the historic 'Kangaroo Route' into a 19- to 21-hour direct flight—duration depending on routing and wind conditions. The first aircraft will carry 20,000 liters of fuel and accommodate 238 passengers, with delivery expected in April 2027. Qantas plans to launch daily nonstop flights between Sydney and London starting October 2027. DW Chinese has an Instagram! Search dw.chinese for more in-depth图文 and video reports. © 2026 Deutsche Welle Copyright: All content is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use without special permission from Deutsche Welle is prohibited. Any improper actions will result in compensation and criminal prosecution.