Earlier this morning, at 10:46am, the first Airbus A350-1000ULR landed at Melbourne Airport, after travelling 17,000 km from Toulouse. This was a Project Sunrise test flight for Qantas, who will be running non-stop trips between Sydney and London next year. The aircraft left Toulouse at 7:33am local time on Thursday, landing in Melbourne at a tight 19 hours and 12 minutes later.
The plane is able to fly commercially non-stop for up to 22 hours, thanks to an additional 20,000 litre fuel tank. The flight was operated by four Airbus test pilots and five test engineers. It will return to Toulouse, leaving Melbourne on Monday, July 27. Two Qantas pilots will join the Airbus flight test crew on board for the return journey.
Qantas and Melbourne Airport
These ultra-long-range Project Sunrise flights will first run between Sydney and London in October 2027, before launching services between Sydney and New York. Sadly, Melbourne hasn’t been named yet for any of these super long flights.
But, Qantas and Melbourne Airport have announced a new commercial agreement. Notably, the airline intends to base some of its Airbus A350-1000LRs in Melbourne, allowing us to travel to new destinations. Not to be confused with the A350-1000ULRs, which are a part of the Project Sunrise range, these A350s are still great for long-haul flights, and can fit more passengers.
“Basing some of our new A350-1000LRs in Melbourne will unlock a range of new destinations that aren’t possible today,” said Qantas Group Chief Financial Officer Rob Marcolina. “Qantas and Jetstar currently fly to 17 international destinations from Melbourne and we look forward to increasing that number, helping to connect more Australians with the world, and growing Victoria’s tourism economy.”
These A350s are expected to be delivered in the 2028 financial year, gradually replacing the airline’s current fleet of A330s and A380s. As there’s still quite a bit to go, details haven’t been revealed yet on what kind of new places the flights will connect us to.
As part of the agreement, Qantas will also help support Melbourne Airport’s $4.5 billion international terminal expansion program. These terminal upgrades will provide a smoother experience for travellers, with a streamlined check-in experience, premium check-in areas and automatic bag drops. The airline has also made a 15-year commitment for Melbourne Airport’s third runway, which is scheduled to open in 2031.
Qantas is also designing a new International Business Lounge. This lounge will be built above Terminal 2, giving customers sweeping views of the airport. It will be up to one third larger than the current lounge. Works on the new space are expected to be complete by 2029.
