Qantas will have to wait until 2027 for the arrival of its first Project Sunrise ultra-long-range Airbus A350-1000 after the European aircraft manufacturer blamed “supply chain issues” for the delay.
Until recently it has been expected that Airbus would deliver Qantas’ first A350-1000ULR by the end of the year, an ambition that was recently buoyed with the emergence of a new A350 from the assembly line in Toulouse.
On May 25, 2026, Bloomberg reported that the first of 12 A350-1000ULRs will arrive in April 2027, meaning Qantas will need to wait a little longer to launch the world’s longest direct flight.
In a statement to the media, Qantas acknowledged the delay indicating the first delivery will take place in April 2027, with the next four aircraft following in “quick succession”.
“We continue to work closely with Airbus on the delivery and certification process that will enable us to begin operating these history-making ultra long-haul flights,” a Qantas spokesperson said.
Giving further details on the progress of its first A350-1000ULR, Qantas said that the aircraft is now in the paint shop in Toulouse and test flights will begin within weeks.
“Pilot training is well underway at our new A350 simulator in Sydney, and next month we’ll announce the first route and timing of our inaugural commercial services,” the spokesperson added.
Unrivaled flight distance covered
Once up and running Qantas will offer nonstop flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to both London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), covering nearly 10,000 nautical miles over approximately 22 hours.
The extended range comes from an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank installed at the rear of the aircraft.
On June 4, 2024, at the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual general meeting in Dubai, Qantas announced that the extra fuel tank had received approval from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
In an earlier setback to Project Sunrise, Qantas had to redesign the extra fuel tank, following a request by the regulator.