Airbus completes first test flight of Qantas sunrise jet

Airbus, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer, announced on Tuesday that the first of 12 modified A350 long-haul aircraft ordered by Australian airline Qantas has successfully completed its maiden flight, according to DPA.

Qantas plans to use the aircraft primarily to operate ultra-long-haul non-stop flights between Sydney and New York, as well as between Sydney and London, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

Operated by Airbus’ flight test crew, the A350-1000ULR took off for the first time from Toulouse, France, and flew for three hours and 43 minutes over France and the French Atlantic coast, the European aerospace group said.

“Following the test flight, MSN 707 will be modified to meet Qantas’ commercial requirements. The second ultra-long-range aircraft is expected to be delivered to the Australian carrier in April 2027 and is currently in the final assembly phase, ready to leave the paint shop in the coming days,” Airbus said in a statement.

Qantas stated that “the successful first flight marks the beginning of a two-month testing period.” In June, the airline is expected to announce the first route under its “Project Sunrise” initiative, along with the launch date for commercial operations.

In 2022, the Australian airline ordered 12 modified A350 long-range aircraft and originally planned to begin Sydney–New York and Sydney–London services in 2025.

Airbus had previously cited supply chain issues as the reason for delays in delivering the aircraft to Qantas.

Currently, there are no direct flights connecting Australia’s east coast with Europe.

The London–Sydney route covers 17,750 kilometers, around 1,500 kilometers longer than New York–Sydney. However, favorable tailwinds mean both journeys are expected to take approximately the same time—up to 22 hours.

Last month, Airbus reported that it delivered fewer aircraft during the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, highlighting ongoing pressure on the European manufacturer to accelerate deliveries to airlines.

In April, Airbus delivered 67 aircraft, bringing total deliveries for the year to 181, a 5.7% decline from the 192 aircraft delivered during the first four months of 2025.

The company is facing challenges in meeting its annual target of approximately 870 commercial aircraft deliveries due to shortages of Pratt & Whitney engines and administrative delays in China that affected first-quarter deliveries. Deliveries in April were down 16% year-on-year.

During the first quarter, Boeing delivered more aircraft than its European rival, as CEO Kelly Ortberg continues efforts to stabilize the American manufacturer after several difficult years that helped Airbus become the world’s largest aircraft producer.

Despite the conflict in the Middle East, Airbus continued deliveries to Gulf airlines in April. Regional carriers Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Air Arabia received three aircraft during the month.

Deliveries to Chinese customers also continued after administrative delays were resolved.

In the first quarter, Airbus sold 436 aircraft, or a net total of 405 after accounting for cancellations.

In 2025, Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft, a 4% increase compared with the previous year, though still significantly below 2019 levels. For 2026, the company aims to set a new record by delivering 870 commercial aircraft, surpassing the previous record established in 2019. Before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted aerospace supply chains, Airbus delivered 863 aircraft in a single year.

Photo: Wikipedia