Airbus A350-1000ULR finishes 19‑hour non‑stop test from France to Australia

Airbus successfully completed the first ultra‑long‑range test flight of its A350‑1000ULR, flying non‑stop from Toulouse, France, to Melbourne, Australia. The aircraft covered more than 17,000 km in 19 hours 13 minutes, using an extra 20,000‑liter fuel tank. Four Airbus test pilots and five flight test engineers operated the aircraft, which was closely monitored by aviation enthusiasts worldwide.

The A350‑1000ULR is being built for Qantas’s Project Sunrise, which aims to launch a non‑stop Sydney‑London service of up to 22 hours. Qantas has ordered 12 of the ultra‑long‑range aircraft, each configured with 238 seats. The airline expects the service to begin in the first half of 2027, with the first delivery slated for late 2026. The successful test flight marks a key milestone toward realizing the world’s longest commercial routes.