World’s Longest‑Range Aircraft, the Airbus A350‑1000ULR, Takes to the Skies

Airbus has marked a major program milestone with the successful first flight of the A350‑1000ULR, the newest and longest‑range member of the A350 family. Designed to operate ultra‑long‑haul missions of up to 10,000 nautical miles, the aircraft completed a 3‑hour‑43‑minute maiden flight from Toulouse, initiating its dedicated certification campaign.

The test aircraft, MSN 707, is equipped with Airbus’ newly developed rear centre tank (RCT), a key modification that increases fuel capacity and extends range by approximately 1,000 nm compared to the standard A350‑1000. The flight also validated early performance data, fuel‑system behavior, and high‑altitude handling, with the aircraft climbing above 41,000 feet during the sortie.

Airbus will now begin a two‑month test programme focused on fuel architecture, cabin‑system enhancements, and new galley‑cooling technology designed for flights exceeding 20 hours. Once testing is complete, MSN 707 will be converted into Qantas’ commercial configuration as part of the airline’s Project Sunrise fleet.

The A350‑1000ULR becomes the fourth passenger variant in the A350 family and is central to Qantas’ plan to launch non‑stop services from Australia’s east coast to destinations such as London and New York.