World’s longest flight lands in Australia after 19-hour journey from European airport | World | News
The revolutionary new aircraft, designed to connect the UK and Australia without a break, made history after completing a 19-hour test flight. The custom-built Airbus A350-1000ULR touched down in Australia on Friday morning after a marathon 10,500-mile (17,000 km) journey from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France.
Followed by more than 10,000 aviation enthusiasts on Flightradar24, the jet has become the world’s most watched flight, pushing the boundaries of modern travel. Built specifically for Australian flag carrier Qantas and its ambitious “Project Sunrise”, the ultra-long-range jet is designed to finally connect London and Sydney with direct, non-stop flights from October 2027. The aircraft features a special rear fuel tank that holds an extra 20,000 litres, giving it the incredible ability to remain airborne continuously for up to 22 hours.
Four Airbus pilots and five test engineers were on board to monitor the plane’s systems throughout the 19 hours and 13 minutes delivery journey.
While non-stop flights between the UK and Australia generally head east, Qantas has come up with an unusual strategy for its London route: flying via the North Pole.
During the Northern Hemisphere winter months, around 20% of flights will head north via Alaska, Greenland and Iceland before landing in London. Taking advantage of favorable tailwinds and lighter air traffic, this alternative route will reduce total travel time to between 19 hours 25 minutes and 20 hours 55 minutes, depending on conditions.
Crossing up to 11 time zones poses a huge challenge to travelers’ body clocks. To combat extreme jet lag, Qantas has partnered with University of Sydney sleep experts to reimagine the entire flying experience. This includes keeping the cabin dark for a full 12 hours, helping passengers sleep naturally despite the rapid time zone change.
The plane also features 12 daily lighting scenes, including a simulated sunset, to help the body clock adapt. Meals are strategically timed; There are low-fat, high-protein options before rest and spices that increase alertness after waking up. Passengers can also use a dedicated wellness zone between Economy and Premium Economy to stretch and follow guided exercises throughout the record-breaking journey.
Before Project Sunrise becomes available to passengers in 2027, the world’s longest commercial flight will remain Singapore Airlines SQ23/SQ24 between Singapore and New York. The non-stop trek takes approximately 19 hours, covering 9,537 miles (15,349 km) on an Airbus A350-900ULR. Qantas’ new route will soon break both records, increasing from an extra 1,000 miles to 10,500 miles and extending flight times by up to 21 hours.
