A Decade-Long Wait For Sunrise

Project Sunrise was originally conceived as a bold attempt to connect Australia directly to almost anywhere in the world with non-stop flights lasting up to 22 hours.

The flagship routes are expected to link Sydney with London and New York without a stopover. This would save air travelers up to 4 hours compared to one-stop journeys via hubs such as Singapore Changi.

The project’s name references Qantas’ historic World War II “Double Sunrise” flights. The carrier’s flying boats would travel between Australia and Sri Lanka, staying airborne long enough for passengers to witness two sunrises.

But while the ultra-long-haul concept has drawn great interest from travelers and the industry alike, the timeline has repeatedly slipped.

The flights were first expected to launch in 2023, but the COVID-19 pandemic upturned airline finances and froze aircraft production schedules. The launch moved to 2025, then to mid-2026, then to early 2027, and now to late 2027.

Airbus Supply Chain Problems Hit Again

Qantas considered both the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X for its Project Sunrise operations before settling on the Airbus A350-1000 in 2019. The airline conducted three early research flights that year using Boeing 787-9s, which were minimally equipped to extend range.

The highly customized Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, built specifically for Qantas, features an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank and other modifications designed to support flights lasting more than 20 hours.

Qantas’ decision to acquire Airbus A350s for this special mission over the 777X may have proved advantageous, given Boeing’s ongoing delays certifying the next-generation widebody program. However, with the latest Airbus delays, the launch of Qantas’ Project Sunrise flights could coincide with the start of Lufthansa’s new 777-9 flights.

Airbus reportedly said the revised delivery schedule was “largely due to the impact of supply chain issues” that disrupted the wider A350 program. The manufacturer has been facing ongoing production delays due to aircraft interior components, and recently warned customers of delays to the A350 program stemming from complications at the former Spirit AeroSystems operations in North Carolina, which build the fuselages for this aircraft.

Despite the setbacks, the first aircraft is now physically close to completion in Toulouse. Airbus says it has entered the paint shop and is preparing for flight testing in the coming weeks. The problem is that a single aircraft will not help Qantas launch Sunrise.

Why Qantas Cannot Launch “Sunrise” Flights With Just One Plane

The carrier has ordered 12 Project Sunrise-configured A350-1000ULRs as part of a larger fleet renewal program.

Qantas has previously said it needs at least three A350-1000ULR aircraft to reliably operate the demanding ultra-long-haul schedule between Australia, Europe and the United States. For this reason, the program’s launch timeline slips each time aircraft deliveries are delayed.

Qantas expects the next four aircraft to arrive in quick succession after the first delivery, helping the program recover some lost ground by late 2027.

Can Passengers Really Handle 22-Hour Flights?

For Qantas, Project Sunrise is an experiment in making ultra-long-haul flying more comfortable.

The airline has worked with researchers from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Center to study passenger wellbeing, jet lag, lighting, sleep and onboard movement during flights lasting nearly an entire day.

The new A350-1000ULR will feature a dedicated “Wellbeing Zone” where economy passengers can stretch and follow guided movement exercises during the flight.

The cabins introduce new premium seating, including business and first-class suites, to make the flight as comfortable as possible for those who would benefit from faster journeys without stopovers.

A Delay In Overcoming “The Tyranny Of Distance”

With the assembly of the first A350-1000ULR advancing in Toulouse, the airline had been optimistic about the program’s timeline until recently.

“Given Australia’s position in the world, Qantas has a long history of breaking aviation barriers. Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world,” said Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson.

Nearly a decade after the concept was unveiled, that lofty goal remains just out of reach. For travelers who are eager to board the world’s longest commercial flight, sunrise is on the horizon, but the horizon keeps moving.