World's longest range aircraft the Airbus A350-1000ULR takes to the skies for the first time
Published on Jun 06, 2026 at 3:58 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jun 06, 2026 at 3:58 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Airbus is already testing the A350-1000ULR, the first of 12 aircraft ordered by Qantas for Project Sunrise.
These massive planes can fly for 22 hours without refueling, which means they’ll provide the ‘platform’ for new record-breaking non-stop flights.
The aircraft only flew for a few hours, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Especially when we remember that, in theory, these flights should take off soon.
Airbus built a record-breaking aircraft
Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier, is currently working on something called ‘Project Sunrise’.
The idea is to connect transoceanic destinations with non-stop flights that weren’t possible until now because technology wouldn’t allow it.
But these new aircraft will make this possible.
The A350-1000ULR, the first of 12 aircraft ordered by Qantas, has already completed its first flight in Toulouse, France.
The aircraft, which was fitted with special flight test instrumentation, flew for three hours and 43 minutes reaching an altitude of slightly above 41,000 feet.
That’s just a fraction of the time it’ll have to spend in the air, but the test flight went well.
If everything goes to plan, the maiden flight will take place soon.
This is the star of Project Sunrise
The Airbus A350-1000ULR is the star of the upcoming Project Sunrise initiative, a non-stop flight from Sydney to London.
This record-breaking flight will clock in at roughly 22 hours, trimming up to four hours off current routes that require a layover.
Apart from London, the Australian airline is also aiming to connect the country’s east coast directly to New York.
To pull this off, Qantas will use the A350-1000ULR, a long-range variant of Airbus’s flagship widebody.
In order to make the journey more bearable, Qantas and Airbus came up with a few tricks.
First, the aircraft feature higher humidity levels, better air filtration, and lower cabin altitude.
It also features four classes and a dedicated ‘Wellbeing Zone’ that acts like a shared living room for passengers to stretch out.
If you want to stretch your legs and get a snack, you’ll be able to do that.
If everything goes to plan, the maiden passenger flight will take off by mid-2027.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
