Australia (Commonwealth Union)_ Qantas has made aviation history after successfully completing what is believed to be the world’s longest commercial flight, keeping a specially modified Airbus A350 in the air for more than 24 hours. The record-breaking journey marks a major achievement for the airline and brings its long-awaited Project Sunrise one step closer to reality. The aircraft took off from Melbourne on July 27 and landed in Toulouse, France, the following day after flying nonstop for 24 hours and 24 minutes. During the flight, it covered around 23,075 kilometres, crossing the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic before reaching Airbus’ headquarters in southern France.
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The achievement breaks the previous commercial flight record of 22 hours and 42 minutes, which was set during a Boeing 777-200LR test flight in 2005. Aviation experts consider the successful mission a significant milestone for the future of ultra-long-haul air travel. The aircraft used for the record attempt was a specially modified Airbus A350-1000 Ultra Long Range, fitted with an added 20,000-litre fuel tank to help support flights lasting over a full day. Engineers spent the journey testing the aircraft’s fuel system, cabin environment, air circulation and other critical systems needed for extremely long flights.
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The historic flight also attracted worldwide attention. The flight was the second most-tracked in Flightradar24 history, with more than 3.6 million people tracking its progress. At one point, over 120,000 people were watching the aircraft live as it approached its destination. Only 12 people were on board during the test, including Airbus engineers, test crew members and Qantas pilots, as the mission focused entirely on aircraft performance rather than passenger operations.
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This is a giant step forward for Qantas’ Project Sunrise, which will see the launch of direct services from Sydney to London and New York in 2027. The airline has placed an order of 12 such specially outfitted aircraft capable of seating 238 passengers on flights of up to 21 hours. When the project enters commercial operation, it will change the face of long-distance travel by allowing travelers to fly non-stop between Australia and major world cities without layovers. The record-breaking flight demonstrates that the technology needed for these ultra-long journeys is becoming a reality and opens a new chapter in the future of international aviation.
