澳洲航空一架改装的空客A350-1000ULR飞机完成了一次超长距离测试飞行，全程耗时24小时24分钟，飞行距离达23,075公里，从墨尔本直飞法国图卢兹无需中停[1]。这次飞行吸引了超过360万互联网用户通过航班追踪平台Flightradar24在线监看，成为该平台历史上第二受关注的飞行记录，仅次于2024年伊丽莎白二世灵柩运送航班[1]。
该飞机是澳洲航空Project Sunrise项目的12架改装飞机之一[1]。根据计划，首架改装飞机将于2027年4月交付，日常商业运营将于2027年10月启动，届时澳洲航空将开通悉尼至伦敦不间断航班，航程预计为19至21小时[1]。这条航线一旦启用，将成为世界最长的商业客运航线[1]。改装后的A350-1000ULR将搭载238名乘客，燃油容量达20,000升[1]。
Qantas completed a marathon test flight covering 23,075 kilometers non-stop from Melbourne to Toulouse, France in 24 hours and 24 minutes aboard a specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft [1]. The flight became the second most-watched on Flightradar24 in the platform's history, tracked by over 3.6 million internet users, surpassed only by a 2024 flight carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin [1].
The ultra-long-range aircraft represents part of Qantas' Project Sunrise initiative, which aims to launch regular non-stop service between Sydney and London beginning in October 2027 [1]. The airline has ordered 12 modified A350-1000ULR jets for this purpose, with the first scheduled for delivery in April 2027 [1]. Once operational, the planned Sydney-to-London route will span 19 to 21 hours and become the world's longest commercial passenger airline service [1]. The aircraft features a cabin capacity of 238 passengers and a fuel tank capacity of 20,000 liters to support such extended operations [1].