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The first Airbus A350-1000ULR, for Qantas, is rolled out in April, 2026.
Qantas has confirmed a further delay to the aircraft needed for its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights, with delivery of the Airbus A350-1000ULRs expected to slide into next year.
The carrier said the first delivery of the Project Sunrise aircraft is now due in April 2027. The previous estimate was for deliveries to begin in late 2026, although this target had also shifted from earlier targets.
Under Project Sunrise, Qantas intends to launch flights from Sydney to London and New York. The first route and the timing of the initial flights will be announced next month, the carrier said.
Qantas needs to have three of the A350-1000ULRs delivered before it can operate daily flights on either route. The carrier ordered 12 A350-1000ULRs in May 2022.
After the first aircraft arrives, the next four are scheduled to “follow in quick succession,” the airline said. That means it expects deliveries to be back on the original timeline by November 2027.
“We continue to work closely with Airbus on the delivery and certification process that will enable us to begin operating these history-making ultra long-haul flights,” Qantas said.
Airbus attributes the delivery delay mainly to the supply chain problems that are affecting its programs and the global aviation industry. However, progress is still being made on the initial aircraft.
The first of the Qantas A350-1000ULRs has entered the paint shop in Toulouse. “Over the next two weeks the aircraft will be painted with the airline's full livery before work begins on the completion of the premium four-class layout and installation of engines,” the manufacturer said.
Airbus is also preparing for the test aircraft’s first flight, which will occur “in the coming weeks.” This will signal the start of a two-month flight test program “focused primarily on the modified fuel system, which will enable non-stop flights of up to 22 hours,” Airbus said.
Qantas said pilot training for these aircraft is already underway in its new A350 simulator in Sydney. Further preparations will be required in Australia, including “training flights to support aircraft certification and local regulatory approvals,” the airline said.
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