Qantas' Next-Gen Airbus Just Flew 24 Hours Straight—Here’s What It Means for Future Travel

A new long-haul Airbus jet has shattered expectations by completing a nonstop test flight from Australia to France that lasted more than a full day. The flight, which touched down in Toulouse after 24 hours and 25 minutes in the air, signals that the era of ultra-long commercial routes is closer than ever.

The aircraft is the Airbus A350-1000ULR, built specifically for Qantas Airways’ ambitious Project Sunrise. The Australian carrier plans to launch nonstop services from Sydney to New York and London by 2027 and has already ordered a dozen of these jets. On July 27, the plane took off from Melbourne, flew over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans as well as North America, and landed in Toulouse the next day, covering 12,460 nautical miles. That return trip followed an earlier 19-hour, 13-minute test leg from France to Melbourne.

Airbus says the secret to such endurance lies in an extra fuel tank installed in the rear cargo hold, capable of holding 20,900 liters (about 5,500 gallons). That additional capacity boosts the jet’s range by 1,000 nautical miles, allowing it to handle the nearly 10,000 nautical miles needed for the planned Sydney–London or Sydney–New York routes. While initial test flights were conducted near Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse with a small team of pilots and engineers, this record-breaking run proves the technology is ready for real-world operations. For travelers, that means a direct flight from Australia to Europe or the U.S. East Coast without a layover—something that’s been a holy grail for decades.