Qantas Delays First Airbus A350-1000 Delivery to Late 2026
Qantas has postponed the delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 to late 2026, further delaying the launch of its highly anticipated Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights. The airline now expects to begin nonstop flights from Sydney to New York and London no earlier than early 2027, pending the arrival of at least three A350-1000 aircraft.
Speaking in Toulouse, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed that Airbus will deliver the first of 24 A350-1000s by the end of 2026. However, to support daily operations on its planned ultra-long-haul routes, the airline requires a minimum of three aircraft, which are not expected until spring 2027 at the earliest. Additional routes will be considered as more aircraft join the fleet.
The delay stems from Airbus modifications mandated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), particularly changes to the aircraft’s fuel tanks, which pushed the variant’s certification to June 2024. This, in turn, delayed the entire Project Sunrise timeline.
Qantas has a significant order backlog with Airbus, including twenty-four A220-300s, forty-three A320-200Ns, seven A321-200NXs, seventeen A321-200NX(LR)s, and forty A321-200NY(XLR)s, with the first XLR deliveries expected in 2025. Additionally, the airline has placed orders with Boeing for eight 787-10s and four 787-9s.
The new aircraft will be allocated across Qantas and its subsidiaries, including Jetstar Airways and Cobham Aviation Services Australia. The fleet expansion is a key part of Qantas’s strategy to modernize operations and expand its long-haul network.
Related News: https://suspicious-zhukovsky.67-21-117-18.plesk.page/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com