Qantas Project Sunrise delayed by Airbus supply issues

Qantas Airways’ (ASX:QAN) Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights have suffered another setback, with the delivery of its custom-built Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft delayed by four months due to ongoing European supply chain issues.

Originally scheduled to arrive by late 2026, the premier widebody jet is now expected in April 2027.

Airbus attributed the scheduling slip to widespread manufacturing and logistics constraints, which continue to disrupt its global A350 production line.

This marks the third major delay since Qantas finalised its order for 12 of the specialised aircraft in 2022, following a pandemic-induced freeze on the project in 2020.

The modified A350-1000ULR fleet is engineered with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank, structural reinforcements, and a higher maximum take-off weight to handle gruelling, non-stop commercial flights lasting up to 22 hours.

The history-making routes will directly connect Australia's eastern coast with global hubs like London and New York.

Despite the setback, Qantas remains committed to the multi-billion-dollar initiative, confirming that a minimum of three operational A350-1000s are required to officially launch the daily services.

While the initial delivery delay threatens a domino effect on the exact launch date of commercial operations, Qantas noted that Airbus expects the subsequent four aircraft to arrive in rapid succession through November 2027.

At the time of reporting, Qantas Airways’ share price was $9.14.