Australian flag carrier Qantas (QF/QFA) has announced that its Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) is now on the Final Assembly Line (FAL) at Airbus’ factory in Toulouse, France.
The A350ULR is the key to unlocking direct flights between destinations such as London and New York to Sydney under Qantas’ Project Sunrise.
The Airbus A350-1000ULR is a specially enhanced version of the A350-1000, designed to push the boundaries of non-stop flight. While both aircraft share the same fuselage length, advanced aerodynamics, and efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the ULR variant incorporates key modifications that allow it to fly significantly farther, making it the longest-range airliner in Airbus’s portfolio.
What is special about the A350-1000ULR?
The A350-1000ULR achieves its extended reach primarily through increased fuel capacity, with additional centre tanks and optimised fuel management systems enabling a range of up to around 10,000 nautical miles. Structural adjustments and fine-tuned weight optimisation ensure the aircraft can handle these ultra-long missions without compromising efficiency or passenger comfort.
This makes the A350-1000ULR uniquely suited for the world’s longest routes combining exceptional range with the A350 family’s hallmark quiet cabin, advanced air systems, and low fuel burn. It represents Airbus’s next step in redefining long-haul travel, offering airlines greater flexibility and passengers a truly global, one-stop flying experience.
What’s next?
Qantas says that all of the key airframe components including the forward, centre and rear fuselage sections have come together and the wings, tail section, and landing gear are now attached.
The next stage will see the aircraft be transferred to a new hangar where it will have engines and flight test instruments installed in preparation for an extensive test flight programme, commencing in 2026 ahead of its planned delivery later year.