Qantas Puts the Airbus A350-1000ULR Through Its Paces
On July 23, Qantas launched a trial run of the Airbus A350-1000ULR as part of its Project Sunrise initiative, which aims to offer non-stop passenger service between London and Sydney. The aircraft departed from Toulouse, France, and touched down in Melbourne, Australia, after 19 hours in the air. More than 10,000 people tracked the journey in real time via Flightradar24.
The first of these specialized A350-1000ULR jets is scheduled for delivery in April 2027, with the remaining 11 planes arriving over the following two and a half years. Until now, passengers traveling from Europe to Australia have had to change planes in the Middle East or Southeast Asia, adding hours to their trips.
U.S. Bill Targets Phone Calls During Flights
Meanwhile, a legislative proposal has been introduced in the United States to prohibit voice and video calls aboard aircraft. Former flight attendants point out that many airlines already ban such calls through their own rules. Ellie Murphy, a former cabin crew member and head of customer service at Virgin Atlantic, noted:
“Talking on the phone while flying can disturb other passengers.”
The success of Project Sunrise could reshape air travel between continents, cutting travel time for millions of passengers and opening up new possibilities for tourism and business ties between Europe and Australia. The high level of public interest in the test flight—tracked by thousands online—signals strong demand for this type of direct connectivity.
The advancements in long-haul travel are not limited to Qantas's recent test flight. Innovations in aviation technology may soon lead to even shorter journeys, with concepts like hypersonic aircraft potentially reducing flight times from the UK to Australia to just three hours. To explore how these developments could revolutionize international travel, read more about the future of hypersonic flights.