Imagine boarding a flight in Australia and landing in France without making a single stop, even after spending an entire day in the air! That’s exactly what an Airbus aircraft has achieved. The Airbus A350-1000ULR has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered by a commercial airliner, flying an incredible 23,155 kilometres in 24 hours and 24 minutes. The achievement marks another major step in aviation towards the future of ultra-long-haul air travel.
Airbus A350-1000ULR Covers 23,155 Km In Record-Breaking Flight
Developed for Australian airline Qantas, the specially configured A350-1000ULR completed its record-setting journey from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France. The aircraft departed Melbourne at 5:27 PM local time on July 27 and landed in Toulouse at 9:51 AM on July 28.
Operating under the callsign AIB35LR, it covered 12,503 nautical miles, equivalent to 23,155 kilometres, without stopping for refuelling. The record was officially announced by Airbus on November 9, 2026, after the flight data received independent validation from the International Aeronautical Federation and Flightradar24.
The journey was also remarkable for the crew. A total of 13 people were onboard, including Airbus and Qantas pilots, flight test engineers, design engineers and a representative of the International Aeronautical Federation. During the flight, they crossed three continents and two oceans, witnessing two sunsets and two sunrises.
How Did The Aircraft Complete Such A Long Flight?
The A350-1000ULR has been designed specifically for ultra-long-distance journeys. One of its biggest modifications is an additional rear centre fuel tank integrated into the aircraft’s structure. This specially designed tank holds 20,000 litres of fuel and extends the aircraft’s range by approximately 1,000 nautical miles. It allows the aircraft to undertake extremely long routes that would otherwise require a refuelling stop.
The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. Airbus worked with Qantas and its partners to adapt the existing A350-1000 platform for longer journeys while maintaining operational and economic efficiency. Importantly, this was not a regular commercial service. The flight formed part of Airbus’ testing programme and was designed to simulate the demanding conditions of ultra-long-haul operations.
Qantas Project Sunrise Aims To Connect Australia With The World
The record-breaking flight is closely connected to Qantas’ ambitious Project Sunrise. The airline has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft for the programme. Qantas plans to use these aircraft to introduce non-stop flights connecting Sydney with London and New York. These journeys could cover nearly 10,000 nautical miles, with flight times reaching approximately 22 hours.
The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in April 2027. Commercial operations on the Sydney-London route are expected to begin later that year. For passengers, this could mean travelling between Australia and major international destinations without the usual stopovers.
Airbus A350 Family Continues To Grow
The A350-1000ULR is the fourth passenger variant in the Airbus A350 family. It joins the A350-900, A350-900ULR and A350-1000. The aircraft family has already established a strong presence in the global aviation market. By the end of October 2026, Airbus had received 1,628 orders from 70 customers. More than 740 A350 aircraft were operating with 42 airlines worldwide.
A New Milestone For Long-Distance Air Travel
Airbus’ record-breaking flight is more than an impressive distance achievement. It demonstrates the possibilities of aircraft designed for extremely long journeys.
With Qantas preparing to launch Project Sunrise, passengers could soon experience some of the world’s longest non-stop commercial flights. The idea of flying from Australia to Europe without changing planes is getting closer to reality.
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