Airbus has confirmed that its specially modified A350-1000ULR (Ultra-Long Range) has secured a Guinness World Record for the longest flight by distance completed by a commercial airliner.
Developed for Qantas Airways under Project Sunrise, the aircraft completed an extraordinary nonstop journey from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France, covering 12,503 nautical miles (23,155 kilometres) in 24 hours and 24 minutes.
Operating under Airbus test-flight callsign AIB35LR, the aircraft departed Melbourne at 5:27 PM local time on July 27, 2026, and arrived in Toulouse at 9:51 AM on July 28. Airbus CEO Lars Wagner officially announced the achievement on November 9, 2026.
The flight crossed three continents and two oceans, with the 13 people onboard experiencing two sunrises and two sunsets. Those onboard included Airbus test pilots and engineers, two Qantas pilots and an FAI representative.
The A350-1000ULR features an additional rear centre fuel tank with approximately 20,900 litres of capacity, extending its range by around 1,000 nautical miles compared with the standard A350-1000. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft is being developed to support Qantas’ Project Sunrise, which aims to introduce nonstop Sydney–London and Sydney–New York flights.
