The first Airbus A350-1000ULR has completed its maiden flight in Toulouse, France, under Qantas Airways’ Project Sunrise programme.
The aircraft, MSN 707, is the first of 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft ordered by Qantas. It took off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on 2 June 2026 and remained airborne for three hours and 43 minutes. It reached an altitude of just over 41,000 feet and was operated by an Airbus experimental flight test crew carrying specialist instrumentation to monitor aircraft performance.
The A350-1000ULR is being developed for ultra-long-haul operations intended to connect Australia directly with cities including London and New York without stopovers. These planned services would cover distances of close to 10,000 nautical miles, with flight times of up to around 22 hours.
The extended range capability is achieved through structural and systems modifications, including the installation of an additional rear centre fuel tank. This increases fuel capacity and is expected to extend the aircraft’s range by around 1,000 nautical miles compared with the standard A350-1000 variant.
During the first flight, test pilots carried out basic handling and performance checks, alongside initial assessments of the modified fuel system architecture. The aircraft will now enter a flight test campaign lasting approximately two months, during which certification work will be completed.
Further testing will also cover cabin systems designed for extended-duration flights, including ventilation, temperature regulation and a redesigned galley air cooling system intended to improve efficiency over long periods in the air.
After the test programme, MSN 707 will be reconfigured to Qantas’ commercial specification cabin layout.
A second A350-1000ULR for Qantas is in advanced final assembly in Toulouse. It is expected to leave the paint shop shortly before engine installation and cabin completion work. Delivery is scheduled for April 2027.
The A350-1000ULR becomes the latest member of the Airbus A350 family, which also includes the A350-900, A350-900ULR and A350-1000. The programme has accumulated more than 1,500 orders from 68 customers, with over 700 aircraft currently in service worldwide, primarily on long-haul routes.
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft as part of Project Sunrise, alongside 12 standard A350-1000s intended for future long-haul network expansion.
