Qantas will have to wait until early 2027 to take delivery of its first ultra-long-range Airbus A350.
Airbus said Monday that its delivery window for the variant – developed specifically for Qantas’ “Project Sunrise” campaign – had slipped from late this year to April 2027 due to supply chain issues. No further details were provided.
Qantas had expected to take delivery of its first of 12 A350-1000ULRs in 2026 and bring the type into commercial service by mid-2027. In a separate statement, Qantas acknowledged the delay but said it will continue to work closely with Airbus to test and certify the aircraft.
Qantas’ Project Sunrise aims to connect the east coast of Australia with far-flung destinations around the world with a single flight. The first commercial Project Sunrise flights will link Sydney with New York and London, routes which currently require one or more stops along the way.
The ultra-long-range A350 will be able to fly for 22 continuous hours, made possible by an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank and enhanced operating systems.
Qantas and Airbus appeared to be making good progress toward the aircraft’s certification and eventual delivery earlier this year. In April, Qantas said that its first production -1000ULR had its engines installed at Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, France. The carrier shared photos and video of the jet on social media, sporting a temporary livery that read “Our Spirit flies further” and “Project Sunrise.”
At the time, Qantas still expected deliveries to begin in late 2026.
