AIRBUS A350-1000ULR aircraft. Photo: Airbus Airbus has completed a significant milestone in the development of its new model, with the A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft completing a 3-hour, 43-minute maiden flight over Toulouse, reaching an altitude of approximately 41,000 feet. The flight was carried out by a dedicated Airbus test team as part of a comprehensive certification process that will continue in the coming months.
The aircraft was developed specifically for the Australian airline Qantas Airways as part of the "Sunrise" project, which aims to enable direct flights between Sydney and London for the first time, a distance of almost 10,000 nautical miles and a flight time expected to reach approximately 22 hours non-stop.
Among the key upgrades in the new model are an additional rear fuel tank that increases range by about 1,000 nautical miles, along with new cooling systems for the aircraft's galley and cabin, designed to improve efficiency and comfort on particularly long non-stop flights. During the trials, which will last about two months, ventilation and climate control systems in the cabin will also be tested.
Once testing is complete, the first aircraft will undergo modifications to Qantas’ passenger configuration. The second aircraft is already in advanced stages of assembly and is expected to be delivered in April 2027.
With 12 aircraft ordered in the ultra-long-range version and another 12 of the regular A350-1000 model, Qantas is preparing for a new era of direct flights between the ends of the world, without connections