Airbus’ A350-1000ULR Goes Airborne

Manufacturer’s first ultra-long-range variant has made two flights as of Thursday afternoon.

Jack Daleo

Friday, June 05, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Airbus’ first A350-1000ULR makes its inaugural flight in Toulouse, France. [Credit: Airbus]

Key Takeaways:

The first Airbus A350-1000ULR, designated as the world's longest-range commercial airliner, successfully completed its debut test flight this week.
Commissioned by Qantas Airways for its "Project Sunrise," the aircraft is designed for 10,000 nm nonstop flights between Sydney and destinations like New York or London.
Key enhancements include increased fuel capacity and features for passenger comfort, such as limited seating and a "wellbeing zone," with initial deliveries to Qantas now expected in April 2027.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.