Airbus Smashes Record with Ultra-Long-Haul A350-1000ULR Flight

Airbus has taken a significant leap ahead of Boeing in the ultra-long-haul space after successfully completing a record-breaking flight of its A350-1000ULR. The aircraft, purpose-built for Qantas' Project Sunrise, flew from Melbourne to Toulouse without stopping, covering a distance of 12,460 nautical miles (23,076 km) in 24 hours and 24 minutes.

The flight was part of Airbus' ongoing test program, which aims to assess the upgrades made to the A350-1000 design to create the specialized A350-1000ULR variant. The aircraft's range has been increased by over 1,000 nautical miles (1,852 km) compared to its conventional counterpart, thanks to a 5,283-gallon (20,000-liter) rear center tank and reworked components designed to reduce weight.

The flight was carried out to prove the A350-1000ULR's viability for Qantas' ambitious project to connect Sydney and London through regular, uninterrupted services. The route took the jet right over Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), showing that the aircraft can withstand a 23-hour block time with some spare capacity in case of diversions or delays.

Airbus has purpose-built the A350-1000ULR for Qantas' Project Sunrise, which aims to cut the overall journey time by four hours compared to today's one-stop connections. The aircraft is scheduled to launch in October 2027, after the completion of the ongoing test program.