Qantas remains bullish on Project Sunrise as it clears an important regulatory hurdle

Qantas has taken a major step forward on its Project Sunrise ultra-long haul initiative, after European regulators approved a key aircraft modification that had caused a delay to the programme.

Airbus gained clearance for the design of an extra fuel tank that is crucial for the A350-1000s to fulfil the mission envisaged by Qantas.

While some certifications are still required, the fuel tank loomed as one of the major remaining technical tasks for the proposed modifications on the A350-1000s.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) wanted revisions to the tank design, which was enough to affect the certification timetable and prompt Qantas to push back its launch target.

Meanwhile, Qantas is still convinced about the business case for Project Sunrise, despite the changed business environment and programme delays.

Executives from the airline discussed the outlook for Project Sunrise and more immediate international plans during a briefing at the IATA annual general meeting in Dubai on 4-Jun-2024.