Inside the specially-modified Airbus jet built for the world's longest flights

Qantas has unveiled the modified Airbus A350-1000ULR that will support “Project Sunrise,” its plan for nonstop 10,000-mile flights lasting up to 22 hours. Announced after years of delays, the aircraft features extra fuel tanks and structural changes, along with ultra-premium first-class cabins and a dedicated “wellbeing zone.” Airbus has started flight testing in France as part of the path to European certification. If approved, bookings for the first Sydney–London nonstop are expected to open in February 2027, with the inaugural flight in October 2027. Qantas says the nonstop route would replace its current one-stop service and cut travel time to London by four hours. The plane uses a new 5,300-gallon rear-center fuel tank plus three other tanks, and a new galley cooling system designed to keep catering fresh longer. Qantas cited reasons for the roughly five-year schedule slip, including COVID constraints, A350 redesign complexity, issues with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, and supply chain bottlenecks.