An Australian carrier achieved an aviation milestone when its Airbus A350 jet completed a nonstop flight lasting 24 hours and 24 minutes, traveling from Melbourne to Toulouse on Tuesday. The aircraft covered approximately 23,075 kilometers without stopping, surpassing the previous record of 22 hours and 42 minutes set by a Boeing 777–200LR in 2005.
The flight is part of Project Sunrise, an initiative designed to enable the airline to operate extended-range nonstop services between Australian cities and major international destinations. Airbus has been conducting a two-month testing campaign on the specially configured aircraft since June, evaluating its performance and capabilities.
The modified A350-1000ULR features enhanced fuel capacity with an additional 20,000 liters and is configured to carry 238 passengers. The aircraft is expected to enter regular service from 2027, initially operating on a Sydney-London route. The carrier has placed orders for 12 of these modified jets, which are intended to reduce travel times between Australia’s east coast and international hubs in London and New York to approximately 20 hours.
The extended-range service marks a significant shift in long-haul travel patterns, potentially transforming what was historically a five-day journey into a single continuous flight. The airline intends to commence daily nonstop service between Sydney and London from October 2027. The recent flight generated substantial public interest, becoming the second-most-tracked flight on a major flight-tracking platform, with more than 3.6 million people monitoring its progress.
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