Project Sunrise aimed to make direct flights from Sydney to London and New York a reality.
Airbus said the first A350-1000ULR for delivery to Qantas had entered the paint shop in Toulouse, France.
“Over the next two weeks the aircraft will be painted with the airline’s full livery before work begins on the completion of the premium four-class layout and installation of engines.”
The ultra-long-haul aircraft will have a high proportion of first-class, business and premium economy seats, and 140 in economy.
In total, cabins will have 238 seats, the lowest seat count of any A350-1000 in service.
That’s largely a reflection of how the huge amount of fuel required for the long journey impacts route economics.
Airbus said: “Preparations for the test aircraft’s first flight are also at an advanced stage, with it ready to take to the skies in the coming weeks.
“This will mark the start of a two-month flight test programme focused primarily on the modified fuel system, which will enable non-stop flights of up to 22 hours.”
Qantas ordered 12 of the A350-1000ULRs in May 2022.
“When these services take off, passengers will save up to four hours off the journey,” a Qantas spokesperson told the Herald today.
“Three aircraft are needed to run a daily non-stop service on either route.
“Pilot training is well underway at our new A350 simulator in Sydney, and next month we’ll announce the first route and timing of our inaugural commercial services.”
Qantas said while the first aircraft delivery had shifted to April 2027, the next four deliveries should follow in quick succession.
That would put Project Sunrise on its original schedule by November, the Australian airline said.
“We continue to work closely with Airbus on the delivery and certification process that will enable us to begin operating these history-making ultra-long-haul flights.”
In 2024, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency asked Airbus to redesign an extra fuel tank.
Delivery dates were then pushed back by about six months to mid-2026.
Reuters at the time reported that global aviation regulators were more closely scrutinising aircraft variant design changes after two deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.
Qantas in April this year said there was strong demand for flights to Europe and it was ramping up services to Paris and Rome but cutting domestic services.
Qantas international and freight chief executive Cam Wallace discussed the project with the Herald when he visited Auckland in December.
“We’re still working with Airbus on Project Sunrise coming to life in 2027,” he said at the time.
The airline already had some ultra-long-haul services such as Perth-Paris, Perth-London, Perth-Rome, Rome-Sydney and Melbourne-Dallas.
Another such service is Auckland-New York, where it competes with Air New Zealand.
Singapore Airlines currently operates the world’s longest regular airline service, flying Singapore-New York.
That journey typically takes 18.5 to 19 hours.
Sydney-New York and Sydney-London would be longer flights than any commercial service worldwide.
John Weekes is a business journalist covering aviation. He previously covered consumer affairs, crime, politics and courts.
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