Airbus Sets World Record for Longest Commercial Flight
Airbus flew an A350-1000ULR from Melbourne to Toulouse, covering 12,503 nautical miles to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest commercial airliner flight.
An Airbus A350-1000ULR set a Guinness World Record for the longest nonstop flight by a commercial airliner on July 27-28, 2026. The aircraft traveled 12,503 nautical miles (23,155 kilometers) from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France, in 24 hours and 24 minutes. The flight path crossed the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean, surpassing a 21-year-old distance record previously held by Boeing.
The mission served as a test for Qantas Airways' Project Sunrise, which aims to launch nonstop services from Sydney to London and New York. To achieve the extended range, Airbus integrated an additional 20,000-liter rear-center fuel tank into the aircraft structure, increasing its range by 1,000 nautical miles. The aircraft is also equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.
Data for the record was independently validated by the International Aeronautical Federation and Flightradar24, the latter of which reported the journey as its second-most-tracked flight ever. Lars Wagner, CEO for commercial aircraft at Airbus, stated that the achievement reflects the company's innovative spirit.
Qantas has ordered 12 of these aircraft. The first delivery is expected in April 2027, with commercial services on the Sydney-London route projected to begin in October 2027. These flights are expected to reach durations of up to 22 hours.
