Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) expects to add its first A350-1000 in late 2026 and deferred the launch of its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights until early 2027, as Airbus continues to delay deliveries of the modified widebody.

Speaking to reporters in Toulouse, Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson said the first of 24 modified A350-1000s would be delivered at the end of 2026, yet another delay in the project. Moreover, to operate daily ultra-long-haul flights from Sydney to New York JFK and Sydney to London Heathrow, the carrier needs three -1000s in its fleet, and this is not expected to take place until the spring of 2027 at least.

"Then, as the other aircraft come on, we'll be able to fill out the network," Hudson said without specifying other routes.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) required Airbus to modify its fuel tanks, which delayed the variant's certification until June 2024 and Qantas's Project Sunrise overall.

The Australian carrier has orders for twenty-four A220-300s, forty-three A320-200Ns, seven A321-200NX, seventeen A321-200NX(LR)s, forty A321-200NY(XLR)s (with the first deliveries of the type expected in 2025), and twenty-four A350-1000s from Airbus. It also expects to add eight B787-10s and four B787-9s from Boeing. The new aircraft are set to be distributed between Qantas and its subsidiaries Jetstar Airways and Cobham Aviation Services Australia - Airline Services.