Airbus flies first ultra‑long‑range A350‑1000ULR for Qantas

Airbus announced that the first of the twelve A350‑1000ULR aircraft ordered by Qantas completed its maiden flight from Toulouse. The test flight lasted three hours and 43 minutes, covering French airspace and the Atlantic, and was piloted by Airbus test‑crew members. Airbus said the jet “is now in an advanced stage of final assembly and ready to leave the paint shop in the coming days.”

Qantas plans to employ the ultra‑long‑range jets for nonstop services linking Sydney with New York and London. The successful flight marks the start of a two‑month testing campaign, after which the airline will reveal the first “Project Sunrise” route later this month. Delivery of the second aircraft is scheduled for April 2027, with final assembly already underway.