The first A350‑1000ULR for Qantas, MSN 707, has completed its maiden flight in Toulouse, marking a key milestone in the development of the ultra‑long‑range variant designed for the airline’s Project Sunrise missions. The aircraft, equipped with flight‑test instrumentation, flew for 3 hours 43 minutes, reaching just over 41,000 ft under the control of an Airbus flight‑test crew.
The A350‑1000ULR has been engineered to operate non‑stop between Sydney and London, a sector of nearly 10,000 nm with flight times approaching 22 hours. Central to the extended range is a newly integrated rear centre tank (RCT), which increases fuel capacity and adds approximately 1,000 nm to the aircraft’s performance envelope.
During the first flight, the crew conducted baseline performance checks and evaluated the aircraft’s new fuel‑system architecture. The sortie marks the start of a two‑month certification campaign covering the structural modifications, the RCT, and a new galley air‑cooling system featuring lighter, more efficient refrigeration units for ultra‑long‑haul operations. Cabin ventilation and temperature‑control systems will also undergo extensive testing.
Following certification, MSN 707 will be retrofitted to Qantas’ commercial configuration.
The second A350‑1000ULR for Qantas — and the first scheduled for delivery in April 2027 — is in the final stages of assembly and is due to roll out of the paint shop in the coming days. It will then receive its four‑class premium cabin and engines.
The A350‑1000ULR becomes the fourth passenger variant in the A350 Family, joining the A350‑900, A350‑900ULR and A350‑1000. The line‑up will soon be complemented by the A350F freighter, which is also progressing toward first flight later this year.
As of the end of April 2026, the A350 programme had accumulated 1,579 orders from 68 customers, with more than 700 aircraft in service with 41 operators worldwide.
Qantas has ordered 12 A350‑1000ULRs for Project Sunrise, alongside 12 standard A350‑1000s for future long‑haul network expansion.
