Airbus has officially secured the Guinness World Record for the longest flight by distance completed by a commercial airliner. The A350-1000ULR (Ultra-Long Range), developed for Australian airline Qantas, covered 23,155 kilometres during a non-stop journey from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France, lasting 24 hours and 24 minutes.
The record was announced by Airbus on November 9, 2026, following independent validation of the aircraft’s flight data by the International Aeronautical Federation and Flightradar24.
The achievement forms part of Airbus’ flight-testing programme for Qantas’ ambitious Project Sunrise, which aims to introduce non-stop commercial flights connecting Australia with major international destinations.
Aircraft Crossed Three Continents And Two Oceans
Operating under the callsign AIB35LR, the aircraft departed Melbourne at 5:27 pm local time on July 27 and arrived in Toulouse at 9:51 am on July 28.
During the journey, it flew over Sydney before heading northeast across the Pacific Ocean towards Los Angeles. It then crossed the North American continent and the Atlantic Ocean before passing over London and continuing to Toulouse.
The aircraft covered 12,503 nautical miles, equivalent to 23,155 kilometres, during the record-setting flight.
A total of 13 people were onboard, including three Airbus test pilots, two Qantas pilots, five Airbus flight test engineers, two design engineers and a representative of the International Aeronautical Federation.
As the aircraft crossed three continents and two oceans, the crew experienced two sunsets and two sunrises.
Special Fuel Tank Extends Aircraft Range
The A350-1000ULR has been specifically developed to support ultra-long-haul operations. One of its major modifications is an additional rear centre fuel tank integrated into the aircraft’s structure.
The 20,000-litre tank increases the aircraft’s range by approximately 1,000 nautical miles, enabling it to undertake journeys that would otherwise require a stop for refuelling.
The aircraft is also powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. Airbus has worked with Qantas and its partners to extend the existing A350-1000 platform’s capabilities while maintaining operational and economic efficiency.
The record-breaking flight was part of a testing requirement designed to simulate extremely long commercial operations, including a sector with a block time of 23 hours.
Qantas Project Sunrise Targets Non-Stop Sydney-London Flights
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft under Project Sunrise. The airline plans to use them to introduce non-stop flights between Sydney and London, as well as Sydney and New York.
These services could involve journeys of nearly 10,000 nautical miles and flight times of up to 22 hours.
The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in April 2027, with commercial operations on the Sydney-London route expected to begin later that year.
Qantas has also ordered 12 standard A350-1000 aircraft for its wider long-haul network.
Airbus A350 Family Continues To Expand
The A350-1000ULR is the fourth passenger variant in the A350 family, joining the A350-900, A350-900ULR and A350-1000.
By the end of October 2026, the A350 family had secured 1,628 orders from 70 customers, with more than 740 aircraft already operating with 42 airlines worldwide.
Summary
Airbus’ A350-1000ULR has broken the commercial airliner distance record by flying 23,155 kilometres from Melbourne to Toulouse in 24 hours and 24 minutes. Developed for Qantas Project Sunrise, the aircraft features an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank. Qantas plans to introduce non-stop Sydney-London and Sydney-New York services from 2027.