Qantas A350-1000 set for test flights to Melbourne, paving way for future long-haul routes and enhanced passenger experience
Australia’s new aircraft
This test flight will assess the aircraft’s 22-hour range and capacity to fly non-stop from Sydney to London, utilising a 20,000-litre fuel tank.
The non-stop journey will cover 17,000km, close to its maximum capacity.
The test aircraft is equipped with monitoring equipment and sensors to gather crucial flight data.
Temperature and pressure will be monitored during the flight for performance analysis.
Airbus test flight engineer Laurent Rossignol noted the pressure of testing a production aircraft.
At the end of the test campaign, the aircraft will be modified into a passenger-configured Qantas plane.
It will feature first and business class suites, along with a Wellbeing Zone for passengers.
The first A350 in the Qantas Project Sunrise fleet is expected to arrive in April 2027.
By October 2027, three A350s will operate daily flights between Sydney and London.
The A350 will initially conduct training flights between Sydney and Melbourne.
While not scheduled commercial services, these flights will allow pilots to familiarise themselves with the aircraft.
Qantas has indicated that future passenger flights could include routes to Auckland and Los Angeles.
Future routes anticipated
Currently, Melbourne will not have direct flights to London or New York.
The first six A350s are reserved for non-stop Sydney-London and Sydney-New York services.
The subsequent six aircraft will replace existing Boeing 787 routes.
Qantas has signaled its intent to serve the Melbourne market with the A350.
Possible routes may include Melbourne-Perth and Melbourne-Auckland-New York.
The second batch of A350s is scheduled for delivery starting in 2028.
Some of these will likely be used for premium routes.
More premium seats on the A350 may attract a larger share of high-margin travellers.
Qantas continues to adjust its fleet and schedules based on market demand.
