Airbus Completes Record-Breaking 24-Hour Test Flight for Qantas

A specially built Airbus aircraft has completed a record-breaking test flight of over 24 hours, traveling 23,075 kilometers from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France. This milestone flight is a crucial part of Qantas' "Project Sunrise," which aims to establish the world's longest commercial flight routes and revolutionize long-haul travel by removing the need for layovers between Australia and Europe.

The aircraft, equipped with an extra fuel tank, remained airborne for 24 hours and 24 minutes. The flight's progress was closely monitored, becoming the second most followed flight ever on Flightradar24, surpassed only by the flight of Queen Elizabeth's coffin in 2024. This demonstrates the significant public interest in ultra-long-haul aviation.

Qantas has ordered 12 custom-built Airbus planes designed to connect Australia's east coast directly with London and New York. These new routes are intended to transform the traditional five-day "Kangaroo Route" to London into a single flight lasting approximately 19 to 20 hours, depending on wind conditions and specific routing. The first of these specialized aircraft, capable of carrying 238 passengers and 20,000 liters of fuel, is expected for delivery in April next year, with daily direct flights between Sydney and London anticipated by October.