Airbus A350 completes 24-hour Qantas test flight

A specially modified Airbus A350 touched down in France on Tuesday after a record 24-hour, 24-minute test flight from Australia, ahead of its planned delivery to Qantas next year.

The aircraft flew 23,076 kilometres across three continents and two oceans. Airbus said the test was a key step before Qantas receives its first A350-1000ULR in April next year, with 11 more to follow.

The ultra-long-range version of the A350-1000 includes an additional 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank. Qantas plans to use the aircraft for non-stop services linking Australia with destinations in Europe and the United States.

Qantas plans to begin non-stop London-Sydney flights in October 2027 and later add Sydney-New York flights. The return test flight simulated a route the aircraft could take in commercial service.

Eight Airbus test pilots, two Qantas pilots and two Airbus engineers were on board. Airbus studied the aircraft's modified fuel-tank architecture, cabin noise changes and air circulation system.

The programme, known by Qantas as Project Sunrise, has been planned for nine years and has faced repeated delays. The current longest commercial flight service is Singapore Airlines' route between Singapore and New York, covering 15,350 kilometres and lasting more than 18 hours with another A350 variant.