The flight was part of the Australian airline’s Project Sunrise testing program, which aims to introduce non-stop passenger services between Australia and Europe in 2027, British newspaper The Independent reported.
The record was based on aircraft data validated by the International Aeronautical Federation and Flightradar24, Airbus said in a press release on Nov. 9.
The specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR departed Melbourne at 5:27 p.m. on July 27 and arrived in Toulouse, France, at 9:50 a.m. the following day. It covered 12,503 nautical miles (23,155 kilometers).
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The crew of flight AIB35LR from Melbourne on arrival in Toulouse in France on July 28, 2026. Photo courtesy of Airbus |
Thirteen crew members from Airbus and Qantas were on board as the aircraft crossed three continents and two oceans. During the flight, they witnessed two sunrises and two sunsets.
The journey also became the second most-tracked flight in Flightradar24 history, attracting more than 3.5 million people who followed its progress online, Australian news site 9News reported.
Qantas plans to launch its first commercial service between Sydney and London in October 2027, with tickets expected to go on sale in February.
Passengers traveling on this route will fly over Alaska, Greenland and Iceland before approaching London from the north. The path is similar to the one taken during the record-breaking test flight.
The new aircraft will accommodate 238 passengers, fewer than the more than 300 seats typically found in other Airbus A350-1000 configurations, allowing for more personal space.
To help passengers cope with jet lag during the lengthy journeys, the aircraft will feature LED lighting designed to support natural circadian rhythms, specially developed meals and an onboard Wellbeing Zone for stretching and hydration.