Qantas Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul aircraft hit by delay
Airbus supply-chain issues pushed the first A350-1000ULR back four months, while Qantas says the next four deliveries should stay on schedule.
- Qantas announced the first A350-1000ULR delivery is delayed until April 2027, a setback for the airline's long-haul Project Sunrise strategy.
- Airbus confirmed supply chain disruptions affecting its A350 schedule are driving the delay, as Project Sunrise aims to launch 22-hour non-stop flights from Australia's east coast.
- The test aircraft is currently in Toulouse, France, for painting, with test flights 'weeks away' according to Qantas; the ultra-long-haul jets feature 238 seats, the lowest count for any A350-1000.
- Despite the initial delay, Qantas expects five aircraft in its fleet by November 2027, with 'the next four will follow in quick succession,' a spokesperson stated.
- First announced in 2017, Project Sunrise relies on a fleet of 12 A350-1000ULRs to bypass stopovers; Qantas plans to announce inaugural commercial routes and timing next month.
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In fact, the Australian airline Qantas is expecting twelve new long-haul Airbus aircraft this year. Now it is clear that the delivery is delayed and that the planned non-stop flights from Europe to Sydney are expected to start later.
The world's largest aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, is still struggling with delivery problems. The Australian airline Qantas will now not receive the first of the twelve ordered modified A350 aircraft until April 2027, Airbus announced on Monday. Qantas had counted on delivery by the end of 2026.
The aircraft are scheduled to fly non-stop from Sydney to London and New York: Qantas ordered twelve A350-type aircraft from Airbus in 2022 – and has to wait even longer for them.
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