Qantas Project Sunrise: A350-1000ULR Nears London-Sydney Debut

Qantas's ambitious “Project Sunrise” to launch non-stop flights between London and Sydney is nearing fruition, with the first Airbus A350-1000 ‘Ultra Long Range' (ULR) aircraft reaching significant production milestones. This initiative aims to connect Europe and Eastern Australia directly, shaving up to four hours off current one-stop itineraries. Qantas previously tested the market's appetite with its popular London-Perth non-stop service, a 9,009-mile route, before committing to the more challenging 10,573-mile London-Sydney journey.

In 2019, Qantas invited Airbus and Boeing to propose customized aircraft capable of this ultra-long range. While Boeing pitched a modified 777X, which has faced significant delays with deliveries now expected in 2027, Airbus offered a tweaked version of its proven A350-1000. Qantas placed a firm order for 12 A350-1000ULRs in May 2022, a decision validated by Boeing's ongoing issues. These custom-built A350s feature an additional 20,000-liter rear center fuel tank, enabling them to fly non-stop for up to 22 hours.

The first A350-1000ULR has seen its fuselage sections connected and wings attached, with Rolls-Royce XWB engines to be installed soon. Qantas anticipates receiving the aircraft by late 2026, with passenger services commencing in the first half of 2027. To mitigate the challenges of 18-22 hour flights, the A350-1000ULR will offer a substantially more spacious experience than typical widebodies, seating just 238 passengers compared to 331 on a standard A350-1000. This lower density is crucial for range and passenger comfort. The aircraft will feature a four-cabin layout: six First Class, 52 Business, 40 Premium Economy, and 140 Economy seats, with Economy offering the best seat pitch in Qantas's fleet, designed in partnership with David Caon. The primary risk remains the sheer duration of these flights for passengers, particularly in Economy, despite the enhanced cabin design.

(Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/11/09/qantas-airbus-a350-1000ulr-taking-shape/)