Qantas Tests Long-Range Airbus in France-to-Australia Flight
Is this a breakthrough for ultra-long-haul travel or just recycled hype?
Above: A Qantas A350-1000ULR arrives at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport on July 24. Image credit: William West/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This test flight proves Qantas leads the way in ultra-long-haul travel with its custom A350 that will slash hours off of transnational trips. Project Sunrise sets a new standard that leaves one-stop flights in the dust.
Narrative B
This test flight changes nothing since far longer nonstop journeys happened decades ago with piston planes and even modern jets. The whole Project Sunrise effort looks like recycled hype without real breakthroughs.