The Qantas Project Sunrise A350 rollout has marked a major milestone in the airline’s push to launch some of the world’s longest nonstop commercial flights. Qantas’ first Airbus A350-1000ULR has rolled out of the final assembly hangar at Airbus’ Toulouse facility, moving the aircraft into ground testing and the next stage of certification.
The aircraft, carrying test registration F-WZNK and manufacturer serial number MSN 707, rolled out on April 12, 2026. The manufacturer has now fully assembled it, with the fuselage, wings, tail, landing gear and Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines all in place.
The aircraft will soon enter a two-month flight-test programme. That phase marks a key step before delivery, which is expected by the end of 2026. The company is currently targeting early 2027 for commercial service
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft for Project Sunrise. The second aircraft has already entered the final assembly line, showing that the broader fleet program is progressing alongside the first jet’s test schedule.
Qantas will build the Project Sunrise aircraft for flights lasting up to 22 hours, including planned nonstop services from Sydney to London Heathrow and from Sydney to New York. These routes are expected to cut up to 4 hours from current one-stop journeys.
To support those missions, the aircraft includes an additional 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank. It will also carry just 238 passengers, far fewer than a standard A350-1000, to improve comfort on ultra-long-haul trips. More than 40% of the seats will be in premium cabins, including Business and Premium Economy. A dedicated wellbeing zone, upgraded crew rest areas, and more spacious ergonomics aimed at reducing the strain of very long flights.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Official History, a detailed government account of the operation.
Qantas plans to name its entire 12-aircraft Project Sunrise fleet after stars or other celestial bodies. The airline chose that theme to reference its historic Double Sunrise Catalina flying boat services during World War II, when crews named aircraft after navigational stars used on Indian Ocean crossings.
Qantas expects to reveal the name of the first aircraft in mid-2026. The rollout also comes as the airline reports strong demand and high customer satisfaction for its existing long-haul nonstop routes, including services from Perth to London, Paris and Rome.
