The ambitious "Project Sunrise" project of the Australian airline Qantas is making progress: the European aviation safety authorities have granted approval for an additional tank for the Airbus A350-1000 ULR, which is intended for super long-haul flights. After a long delay due to technical adjustments, the project is now finally set to start.
Originally announced in 2017, Qantas plans to offer ultra-long-haul flights from Sydney to London and New York from mid-2026. The approval of the additional fuel tank by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) enables Qantas to meet the current delivery date for the specially modified A350-1000 ULR.
The COVID-19 pandemic and technical challenges had delayed the delivery of the aircraft. With the new "Sunrise" flights, Qantas is responding to the increasing demand for high-quality long-haul products and is also planning to expand the international network from Perth. The airline also sees particularly great growth potential in India. The long-awaited ultra-long-haul flights are not only intended to strengthen Qantas' existing route network, but also to set new standards in global air traffic.