Airbus has reached a significant landmark in commercial aviation with its A350-1000ULR (Ultra-Long Range) making the longest flight by distance of any commercial airliner, earning a place in the Guinness World Records.

The record was set using aircraft data independently verified by the International Aeronautical Federation and Flightradar24, which independently verified the aircraft’s performance during the remarkable journey.

The Airbus aircraft took off from Melbourne, Australia at 17:27 local time (06:27 UTC) on Monday 27 July under the flight identification AIB35LR. It landed in Toulouse, France at 0951 local time (0751 UTC) on Tuesday, July 28.

The journey covered a distance of 12,503 nautical miles (23,155 kilometres) and lasted 24 hours and 24 minutes in the air.

The flight wasn’t just a record attempt. It was part of the ongoing flight test campaign for the A350-1000ULR, which Airbus is developing for Qantas Airways as part of Project Sunrise.

In the programme, Airbus had to complete one flight sector with a block time of 23 hours, measured from push-back at departure until the aircraft was in its parking position and the chocks were in place at arrival. This requirement was set to simulate the operational conditions of the longest commercial flights the aircraft is expected to fly.

A route crossing two oceans and three continents

The flight path demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to conduct very long operations over multiple regions of the world.

The A350-1000ULR took off from Melbourne and flew over Sydney before heading north-east across the Pacific Ocean towards Los Angeles. The aircraft crossed the International Date Line on the crossing and then flew across the North American continent.

It then crossed the Atlantic Ocean, turned towards the United Kingdom and passed over London before reaching its destination in Toulouse.

So the aircraft flew over three continents and two oceans in one uninterrupted flight. It was also a rare experience for those on the journey. Along the way, the crew saw two sunsets and two sunrises.

Thirteen people were aboard for the mission. The crew was made up of three Airbus test pilots, two Qantas pilots and five Airbus flight test engineers. A representative of the International Aeronautical Federation was also present, as well as two design engineers from Airbus.

Airbus highlights the engineering feat that enabled the record

“This achievement is proof of our pioneering and innovative approach to aviation,” said Lars Wagner, Chief Executive Officer Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.

“The challenge from Qantas brought Airbus teams together to increase the range of the A350-1000, while maintaining an efficient, economic design that could support the longest commercial operations in the world,” he said.

Wagner said the 12,503 nautical miles flown nonstop demonstrated that the aircraft could fully satisfy its intended operational requirements. "This Guinness World Records recognition is another reward for the work done by the teams involved," he said.

The Airbus executive also congratulated everyone involved in delivering the programme and recognised the role Qantas had played in pushing the limits of long-haul aviation through its partnership with the manufacturer.

He expressed gratitude to Rolls-Royce for their full support and the other partners in the project. Finally, Wagner reaffirmed the undisputed leadership of the A350 in the segment of long-range aircraft.

Project Sunrise to revolutionise long-haul connectivity

Beyond the world record, the A350-1000ULR has a clear commercial goal of allowing Qantas Airways to operate non-stop services for the first time between Sydney and London, and Sydney and New York.

These routes will cover almost 10,000 nautical miles with flight times to be as long as 22 hours.

One of the main technical elements that allow these operations is the installation of an additional Rear Centre Tank (RCT), integrated in the structure of the aircraft.

The extra fuel tank improves the aircraft’s performance and increases its range by 1,000 nautical miles, giving it the extra capacity to fly the challenging routes envisaged under Project Sunrise.

The A350-1000ULR is the fourth passenger version of Airbus' best-selling A350 Family. It joins the A350-900, A350-900ULR and A350-1000, further extending the manufacturer’s long-haul portfolio.

The A350 Family continues to expand its global presence

Across its different variants, the A350 Family has helped establish new standards for long-distance air travel. Airbus highlights improvements in fuel consumption and carbon emissions, alongside enhanced passenger comfort.

The passenger aircraft range will soon be complemented by the all-new A350F freighter, which made its first flight on 29 September. The cargo aircraft has entered a nine-month flight-test programme as Airbus prepares to extend the A350 platform into the dedicated freighter market.

The commercial performance of the family also reflects its growing importance to the aviation industry. At the end of October 2026, the A350 programme had accumulated 1,628 orders from 70 customers.

More than 740 aircraft were already in service with 42 operators worldwide, primarily supporting long-haul routes across international networks.

Qantas orders 12 A350-1000ULRs for its ultra-long-haul programme

Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft under Project Sunrise, with the first delivery scheduled for next April. The aircraft is expected to enter commercial service later in the year, initially operating the Sydney-London route.

The introduction of these aircraft will represent a significant development for Qantas, allowing the Australian carrier to offer direct connections between destinations separated by some of the longest distances in commercial aviation.

However, Airbus has not confirmed whether a dedicated freighter version of the A350-1000ULR will also be made available.

For now, the manufacturer's cargo ambitions within the A350 programme are focused on the A350F, which is undergoing its dedicated flight-test campaign.

The record-breaking Melbourne-Toulouse flight provides a substantial demonstration of the A350-1000ULR's capabilities as Airbus and Qantas move closer to launching Project Sunrise. It also underlines the growing potential of ultra-long-range aircraft to reshape international air connectivity by making some of the world's longest routes possible without intermediate stops.