Airbus A350 Sets 24-Hour Flight Record with Historic Nonstop Test Journey
A remarkable milestone has been achieved in the aviation industry as a specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR completed a 24-hour and 24-minute nonstop test flight, setting a new record for ultra-long-haul operations.
Operated as part of Qantas' future long-distance program, the aircraft departed from Melbourne, Australia, and landed in Toulouse, France, after flying continuously for more than 23,000 kilometers.
Designed for the world's longest commercial flights
The Airbus A350-1000ULR has been specifically developed for ultra-long-range routes. Equipped with additional fuel tanks, the aircraft is expected to operate Qantas' planned nonstop Sydney-London service beginning in 2027.
The project is part of the airline's ambitious "Project Sunrise," which aims to connect Australia directly with major destinations in Europe and North America without requiring stopovers.
More than 23,000 kilometers without landing
During the test, the aircraft traveled 23,075 kilometers across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans without a single landing. The successful flight marked one of the most important phases of Airbus' ongoing testing program, which has been underway for the past two months.
Engineers gathered valuable performance data related to fuel efficiency, engine reliability, cabin systems, and the aircraft's endurance during extremely long flights.
Previous world record surpassed
The achievement also broke the previous record established in 2005, when a Boeing 777-200LR completed a 22-hour and 42-minute nonstop flight from Hong Kong to London via the Pacific Ocean.
With a flight time exceeding 24 hours, the Airbus A350-1000ULR has now become the new benchmark for ultra-long-haul aviation testing.
Millions followed the journey live
The historic flight attracted enormous global attention. According to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24, the journey became the second most-watched flight ever recorded on the service.
Approximately 3.6 million people monitored the aircraft's progress live as it crossed oceans and continents, highlighting the growing public interest in next-generation long-haul aviation.
If the ongoing testing program continues successfully, Qantas and Airbus could soon introduce one of the world's longest nonstop commercial flights, offering passengers a more seamless travel experience by eliminating the need for connecting flights.
