Qantas plane flies for more than 24 hours in record-breaking flight

Qantas, Australia's flag carrier, has made aviation history with its recent completion of what is believed to be the longest-ever commercial flight. The Airbus A350-1000ULR jet landed in Toulouse, France, after a grueling 24 hours and 24 minutes in the air. The non-stop journey covered a staggering 23,075 kilometers, taking the plane over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

The flight, part of Qantas' ambitious Project Sunrise, tested the endurance of the specially adapted A350-1000ULR airliner. The aircraft was equipped with an extra fuel tank, allowing it to remain airborne for extended periods. Although this specific flight was for testing purposes, the aircraft is poised to debut on Qantas' much-anticipated non-stop Sydney-London route in 2027. Airbus has been conducting a two-month test campaign on the aircraft since June, with another notable test taking place just last week, where the plane flew from Toulouse to Melbourne in approximately 19 hours.

This record-breaking flight has generated significant interest globally, with millions of people tracking its progress online. In fact, it became the second-most-tracked flight ever on Flight-tracking provider Flightradar24, behind another notable flight that took place in 2024. Qantas' vision for its Project Sunrise is to revolutionize long-haul travel, reducing the travel time between Australia and London from several days to just 19-21 hours.