The first Airbus A350-1000ULR, billed as the world’s longest-range commercial airliner, finally took off this week, according to the European manufacturer.
Australia’s Qantas Airways in 2017 challenged Airbus and Boeing to extend the range of their next-generation aircraft. Airbus accepted, and Qantas in 2022 ordered a dozen A350-1000ULRs, which have a projected range of about 10,000 nm. That’s long enough to fly from Sydney to New York City or London, the two routes the airline envisions for its new additions.
This year, Airbus revealed that supply chain snags will delay the first A350-1000ULR delivery from later in 2026 to April 2027. But the model’s debut test flight near Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France, marks a key step in its development.
According to FlightRadar24, the aircraft made a second, four-hour flight on Thursday after Tuesday’s three-hour, 43-minute sortie. Airbus said the latter reached an altitude close to 41,000 feet.
Airbus said the plane is equipped with “special flight test instrumentation” and flown by a dedicated flight test crew. The manufacturer is undertaking a two-month campaign to validate the model’s range-extending enhancements, such as an extra rear center tank that boosts fuel capacity by about 20,000 liters. The modifications improve the standard A350-1000’s 9,000 nm range by about 1,000 nm.
For comparison, Airbus’ longest-range aircraft in service is the A350-900ULR. Its range of 9,700 nm allows it to operate nonstop flights between Singapore and New York for Singapore Airlines, the world’s longest such commercial routes. Boeing’s is the increasingly rare 777-200LR, with a range of about 9,400 nm.
The ultra-long-range A350-1000 variant is one of the largest widebodies in production. Powered by twin Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, it has an intended cruise speed of Mach 0.85. Though it improves on the standard variant’s maximum takeoff weight, Qantas will limit seating to 238 passengers versus the standard 350 in order to improve comfort.
Also intended to make longer trips smoother for passengers is a new galley air cooling system with lighter refrigeration units. The new system reduces the A350-1000’s weight by about 300 kilograms and will become standard across the A350 family in the future. Test pilots will gauge the plane’s ventilation and temperature control during the two-month campaign in order to certify it.
Once testing is complete, the aircraft will be retrofitted to Qantas’ commercial specifications. The demonstrations move the airline one step closer to realizing Project Sunrise—its vision for trips between Sydney and New York or London in 22 hours, saving four hours versus one-stop flights. It has estimated three aircraft would be required for nonstop daily service on either route.
Project Sunrise
Singapore Airlines’ nonstop route between Singapore and New York takes about 18 hours. Qantas aims to field an airliner that is powerful—and importantly, comfortable—enough to make even longer trips viable.
Project Sunrise is named after the long-haul flying boats that the airline flew during World War II. Passengers and crews would see the sun rise twice on 33-hour trips.
Per Airbus, a second A350-1000ULR—the first scheduled to be delivered to Qantas in April—is in an “advanced stage of final assembly” and will be ready for a paint job in the coming days. After that, the manufacturer will install the engines and a four-class passenger cabin. Forty percent of the 238 seats are expected to be premium, including six fully enclosed first-class cabins. Also planned is a “wellbeing zone” for passengers to stretch their legs and grab a snack.
Though deliveries have been delayed to April, Qantas in May told digital aviation news outlet SimpleFlying that the “next four [deliveries] will follow in quick succession, putting us back on our original schedule by November.” The airline is already training pilots at its facilities in Australia.
In addition, Qantas has an order for a dozen standard A350-1000s, with initial deliveries scheduled for 2028.
Airbus meanwhile will soon expand the A350 family further with its A350F freighter variant, also in development and expected to begin flight testing this year. More than 700 aircraft in the family are in operation across 41 operators.