Airbus Delays Qantas Project Sunrise Again As A350 Delivery Slips
First Qantas A350 now expected April 2027
Qantas’ ambitious plan to fly non-stop to London and New York has hit another roadblock, as aircraft manufacturer Airbus today confirmed a further delivery delay to the A350-1000ULR needed to operate these mammoth 22-hour flights.
Airbus blamed the delay on supply chain issues, but was optimistic that flight testing would begin within weeks. Qantas is now expected to take delivery of its first A350 in April 2027, which likely means Project Sunrise flights will begin toward the end of 2027.
“While the first aircraft delivery has shifted to April 2027, the next four will follow in quick succession, putting us back on our original schedule by November. We continue to work closely with Airbus on the delivery and certification process that will enable us to begin operating these history-making ultra long-haul flights,” a spokesperson for Qantas said.
The A350-1000ULR ordered by Qantas has been specially designed with an additional fuel tank that enables the 22-hour, 18,000-kilometre non-stop flight from Sydney and Melbourne to New York and London.
While Airbus might be putting the brakes on Qantas’ dream, the airline itself is full steam ahead. Pilot training is well underway in Sydney at the airline’s new A350 simulators, and in June 2026, Qantas will announce the first route and timing of inaugural commercial services.
Presumably, this will be Sydney-Auckland, as Qantas has previously mentioned they will operate the A350 on shorter trans-Tasman trips to train pilots and cabin crew. From there, the airline needs three jets to run a daily non-stop service on either route.
That means that once Qantas has received all 12 A350-1000s, four daily Project Sunrise flights will be possible from both Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York.
Qantas’ Updated A350 Delivery Schedule
Project Sunrise has faced delays from the start, with the ambitious project first unveiled in 2017 by then-Qantas CEO Alan Joyce amid significant hype. At the time, Qantas challenged both Airbus and Boeing to develop aircraft capable of operating the ambitious non-stop flights, with a 2022 targeted launch.
Those plans were derailed by the pandemic, but by May 2022, the Flying Kangaroo had placed an order for 12 Airbus A350s capable of operating Project Sunrise flights. Airbus expected to deliver the first of these jets by late 2025, but that timeline slipped to late 2026. The latest target now points to the first aircraft arriving in April 2027.
But this is just the delivery date for Qantas’ first A350, with the airline noting final preparations are required in Australia before the first services take off. This includes several training flights to support aircraft certification, and at present, it's expected that a total of five A350s will be delivered by November 2027.
So for now, it looks like the launch of non-stop Project Sunrise flights will likely be towards the end of 2027.
Inside The Qantas A350
Qantas says they plan to fit their A350s with 238 seats across four classes, with more than 40 per cent of the cabin dedicated to premium seating.
- 6 First suites in a 1-1-1 configuration
- 52 Business suites in a 1-2-1 configuration
- 40 Premium Economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration
- 140 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration
One of the more unusual additions is the dedicated Wellbeing Zone located between the Economy and Premium Economy cabins. The area is designed to encourage passengers to stretch and move around during flights that could exceed 20 hours. The space will include guided movement content displayed on monitors, sculpted stretching walls and self-serve refreshments available to all passengers.
The A350 will come fitted with free WiFi for all passengers, regardless of travel class, plus Bluetooth audio connectivity with the seatback screen.
First Class
Qantas’ new First suite will offers 50% more space than its A380 equivalent, with each enclosed suite featuring a sliding door, a separate reclining armchair, an 80-inch flat bed, a 32-inch entertainment screen and even a full-length wardrobe.
Qantas says the suites are designed to function as both a workspace and dining area for up to two people, with adjustable lighting, wireless charging and multiple storage areas also included.
Business Class
For the first time, Qantas Business suites will feature sliding privacy doors. The airline has also added adjustable dividers between centre seats, larger work surfaces and additional storage options.
Each Business suite includes an 80-inch flat bed, an 18-inch entertainment display with Bluetooth audio connectivity, wireless charging and a separate cocktail table and work surface.
Premium Economy and Economy
Premium Economy passengers will get a 40-inch seat pitch, calf rests, dedicated storage pockets and winged privacy headrests, while Economy passengers receive a comparatively generous 33-inch seat pitch alongside upgraded entertainment screens and USB-C charging at every seat.
Summing Up: My Take
Nearly a decade after Project Sunrise was first unveiled, Qantas’ ultra-long-haul ambitions remain both tantalisingly close but frustratingly out of reach.
It’s easy to criticise Qantas for the number of delays the project has faced, but realistically, the airline is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in commercial aviation, and that was never going to happen quickly. Many of the delays so far have stemmed from Airbus’ ongoing supply chain issues, but Qantas appears determined to press ahead with one of the most ambitious commercial aviation projects ever attempted.
