The first Airbus A350-1000ULR for Qantas has completed its maiden flight from Toulouse, marking an important step toward the launch of some of the longest passenger routes in the world. The aircraft, MSN 707, is the first of 12 specially developed A350-1000ULR aircraft ordered by the Australian carrier for its Project Sunrise program.
The test flight lasted three hours and 43 minutes, with the aircraft reaching an altitude of just over 41,000 feet. The flight was conducted by a dedicated Airbus flight test crew, while the aircraft was fitted with special test instrumentation for the campaign.
The A350-1000ULR is being developed specifically for Qantas to enable non-stop flights between Sydney and London, covering a distance of almost 10,000 nautical miles. Flight times on such services are expected to reach up to 22 hours, as Qantas aims to open one of the last major frontiers in global long-haul passenger travel: directly connecting eastern Australia with Europe without an intermediate stop.
The key technical change compared with the standard A350-1000 is the integration of an additional rear centre tank into the aircraft structure. This increases the aircraft’s range by around 1,000 nautical miles, which is essential for the planned ultra-long-haul flights from Australia to Europe and North America.
During the first flight, the Airbus crew carried out basic aircraft performance checks and tested the new fuel system architecture. This marked the start of a two-month flight test campaign to certify the modifications. As part of the same process, a new galley air-cooling system will also be certified, featuring lighter and more efficient refrigeration units designed for very long flights. Particular attention will also be given to cabin ventilation and temperature control.
After the test campaign is completed, MSN 707 will be retrofitted to Qantas’ commercial configuration. The second A350-1000ULR for Qantas, and the first aircraft scheduled to be delivered to the airline in April 2027, is now at an advanced stage of final assembly and is expected to roll out of the paint shop in the coming days. This will be followed by the installation of the premium four-class passenger cabin and engines.
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft under Project Sunrise. In addition, the Australian carrier also has 12 standard A350-1000s on order for future deployment across its long-haul network.
The A350-1000ULR is the fourth passenger variant of the A350 Family, joining the A350-900, A350-900ULR and A350-1000. Airbus says the A350 Family has set new standards in long-haul travel, particularly in terms of fuel consumption, carbon emissions and passenger comfort. The passenger line-up will soon be joined by the A350F freighter, which is also under development, with its first flight planned for later this year.
According to Airbus, by the end of April 2026 the A350 Family had secured 1,579 orders from 68 customers, with more than 700 aircraft in service with 41 operators worldwide, primarily on long-haul routes.
