Airbus has put the limits of non-stop flying to the test. The company’s modified airliner covered more than 23,000 kilometers on a single flight, spending slightly over 24 hours in the air. The achievement has been recognized by Guinness World Records. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at how the record-breaking flight unfolded and what new routes this development could make possible.
The Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft broke the record on a flight from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France. The flight lasted 24 hours and 24 minutes and covered a total distance of 23,155.6 kilometers or 12,503 nautical miles. It became the farthest non-stop flight operated by a commercial aircraft.
The test was carried out as part of Project Sunrise by Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier airline. The aircraft crossed three continents and two oceans, as its route passed over Sydney, the Pacific Ocean, North America, the Atlantic Ocean and the U.K. A total of 13 people were on board, including three Airbus test pilots, two Qantas pilots and five flight test engineers.
A custom-built 20,000-liter central fuel tank made the aircraft’s long-distance flight possible. Airbus said the test had successfully demonstrated the aircraft’s capabilities.
The tests have a practical purpose. In 2027, Australian carrier Qantas plans to launch the first non-stop passenger flights from Sydney to London and New York. Currently, the longest regular passenger flight is considered to be Singapore Airlines’ route between Singapore and New York, which takes more than 18 hours.
If Qantas fulfills its plans, passengers will no longer need to make stopovers on long-haul routes like this. However, spending almost 24 hours in an aircraft seat might not appeal to everyone. On the other hand, passengers won’t need to pack up their belongings every few hours or look for their next departure gate.
