World's Longest Flight Route Revealed! 24-Hour Non-Stop Journey with Just 238 Seats

Qantas has successfully completed an ultra-long-haul flight test, with an Airbus A350-1000ULR flying non-stop from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France. The flight lasted 24 hours and 24 minutes, covering a total distance of 23,075 kilometers—setting a new record for the longest commercial passenger flight in history. This surpasses the previous record set in 2005 by a Boeing 777-200LR, which flew from Hong Kong to London in 22 hours and 42 minutes.

The flight was part of Project Sunrise, an initiative aimed at operating non-stop flights from Australia to London and New York. Qantas plans to launch daily non-stop services from Sydney to London and New York by October 2027.

The week before, the same aircraft flew from Toulouse to Melbourne via the Indian Ocean in approximately 19 hours, serving as a return leg for testing purposes. According to flight tracking platform Flightradar24, over 3.6 million people tracked this test flight online, making it the second most-followed flight in the platform’s history—surpassed only by the 2022 special flight transporting Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin.

The aircraft has been specially modified with an additional fuel tank, allowing it to carry 20,000 liters more fuel. It flew without landing, crossing both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, experiencing two sunrises and two sunsets before landing at Airbus’s factory in Toulouse.

To support ultra-long-haul operations, the aircraft features a central fuel tank with a 20,000-liter capacity, significantly extending its range. To balance flight distance with passenger comfort, the total number of seats has been reduced from the standard A350’s maximum of around 410 to just 238.

To enhance the experience on flights lasting over 20 hours, the cabin includes several innovative features:

- Wellbeing Zone: A dedicated area accessible to all passengers for stretching and hydration during long flights. - Circadian Lighting: Adjustable lighting systems designed to help regulate passengers’ biological clocks and reduce jet lag. - Chronobiology-Based Service Design: Meal service and in-flight entertainment schedules have been redesigned based on sleep research. - Smart Technology: Free high-speed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth audio connectivity are available throughout the aircraft.

Qantas has ordered 12 of these modified A350-1000ULR aircraft, each capable of carrying an additional 20,000 liters of fuel and configured with 238 seats. The goal is to reduce what was previously a five-day journey to just 19–21 hours. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in April 2027.

Qantas plans to officially launch daily non-stop flights from Sydney to London starting October 2027, with New York services to follow.