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, designed for ultra-long-range flights of up to 10,000 nm, completed its debut test flight this week, marking a key development step.
Qantas Airways is the launch customer for a dozen of these aircraft, intended for its "Project Sunrise" to enable non-stop routes such as Sydney to New York or London.
The A350-1000ULR features an extra fuel tank for extended range and modifications like reduced seating (238 passengers) and a new galley air cooling system to enhance passenger comfort on anticipated 22-hour journeys.
Deliveries to Qantas, initially delayed to April 2027 due to supply chain issues, are crucial for the airline's vision of significantly shorter travel times on these ultra-long-haul routes.

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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.