Just eight decades ago, a trip from London or New York to Sydney or Melbourne required more than a week of travel.

Today, a new aircraft that can make the journey without any stopovers is nearing completion. On Friday, Qantas shared the first images of the plane during its assembly process.

Equipped with a specially designed 20,000-liter fuel tank in the rear center section, the Airbus A350-1000ULR will be capable of flying nonstop for up to 22 hours. Qantas has named the initiative “Project Sunrise,” referencing the fact that the long flight duration can include two sunrises.

Once commercial services begin in early 2027, these flights will cut up to four hours off current travel times between Australia’s east coast and cities like London or New York.

While Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner already manages a 17-hour direct flight to Perth on Australia’s west coast, flying nonstop to the eastern side has been considered the last major aviation challenge, a point Qantas emphasized in a recent post.

The airline has been developing this plan since 2017, though the Covid-19 pandemic caused considerable delays across the aviation industry.

In 2022, Qantas placed an order for 12 Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft specifically for these long-distance journeys. The first delivery is expected in October of next year.

In a recent progress update, Qantas unveiled new images and footage of the airplane, highlighting different stages of its construction at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France.

Initially, the aircraft’s fuselage was transported inside a specially designed cargo aircraft known as the Airbus Beluga, named for its whale-like shape.

After arriving, the fuselage was moved into a hangar, where engineers connected it with other major components. Now that the primary structure is complete, the plane will be relocated to another hangar to receive its engines and testing equipment, according to Qantas.

Along with these technical milestones, Qantas also presented the new first and business class interiors designed for the long-haul Project Sunrise flights.

Beyond extended flight duration, the initiative is also focused on enhancing passenger comfort and wellbeing. “Our goal is to revolutionize ultra long-haul travel through science-based design that reduces jetlag and enhances overall wellness,” explained Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson.

The aircraft will feature only 238 seats, significantly fewer than the roughly 400 seats typical of standard A350-1000s. In their place, there will be a dedicated “Wellbeing Zone” situated between the premium economy and main economy cabins, in addition to luxury first-class suites.