The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has set a new world record for the longest non-stop flight by a commercial airliner. A specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR covered 23,155 kilometres in 24 hours and 24 minutes, surpassing the record set by the American Boeing 777-200LR, which had remained unbroken since 2005. The record-breaking flight was part of the aircraft’s test programme for the Australian airline Qantas. This was announced in an official Airbus statement dated 9 November 2026.
- The Airbus A350-1000ULR has set a world record for the longest non-stop flight by a commercial airliner.
- The aeroplane covered 23,155 kilometres in 24 hours and 24 minutes.
- The previous record set by the Boeing 777-200LR had remained unbroken since November 2005.
- The record-breaking flight took place as part of Qantas’s test programme.
An Airbus flew from Australia to France without making a single stop
The record-breaking flight AIB35LR took place on 27–28 July 2026. The aircraft took off from Melbourne at 17:27 local time and landed in Toulouse, France, the following day at 09:51.
The route took them across the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic. During the journey, the crew crossed three continents and two oceans, witnessing two sunsets and two sunrises.
There were 13 people on board — test pilots Airbus, Qantas pilots, engineers and a representative of the International Aeronautical Federation.
The test was carried out without any regular passengers on board. The results were verified by experts from the International Aeronautical Federation and Flightradar24.
Boeing’s record stood for over 20 years
The previous record was held by the Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner. In November 2005, the American airliner completed a non-stop flight from Hong Kong to London, covering 21,601 kilometres in 22 hours and 42 minutes.
The new Airbus exceeded this figure by 1,554 kilometres. Furthermore, it spent 1 hour and 42 minutes longer in the air.
Airbus has therefore set a new benchmark for commercial airliners, although the record-breaking flight was a test flight rather than a scheduled passenger flight.
Qantas is planning non-stop flights between Australia and Europe
Airbus A350-1000ULR are being developed specifically for the Project Sunrise programme run by the Australian airline Qantas. The aim is to launch non-stop passenger flights from Sydney to London and New York.
To increase its range, the aircraft was fitted with an additional fuel tank in the rear central section of the fuselage. This increased its range by approximately 1,852 kilometres.
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft. The first of these is due to be delivered to the airline in April 2027, and scheduled flights between Sydney and London are set to begin later that year.
Future passenger flights could last up to 22 hours, making it possible to travel between Australia and Europe without a stopover.
