Airbus Completes Historic A350-1000ULR Endurance Flights for Project Sunrise

Airbus has successfully completed a series of historic long-endurance test flights for the A350-1000ULR, positioning the aircraft to become the world's longest-range commercial airliner. The test campaign, centered on prototype MSN 707 (registration F-WULR), is a critical milestone for Qantas Airways' Project Sunrise, which aims to link eastern Australia with London and New York via non-stop service.

Following its maiden flight on June 2, 2026, the aircraft completed two landmark endurance missions. The first was a non-stop ferry from Toulouse to Melbourne, covering nearly 17,000 kilometers in approximately 19 hours and 12 minutes. That was followed in late July by a globe-spanning return flight from Melbourne to Toulouse via North America — a journey of 24 hours and 23 minutes, according to Flightradar24 data, making it one of the longest test flights ever recorded for a commercial aircraft.

Technical Innovations

To achieve these capabilities, Airbus integrated a 20,000-liter rear center tank (RCT) into the airframe, extending range by approximately 1,000 nautical miles over the standard A350-1000 and pushing total range to roughly 10,000 nautical miles. The 24-plus-hour return mission demonstrated performance beyond the aircraft's nominal design ceiling, underscoring margin in the design. Qantas has ordered 12 of the modified jets, with entry into service targeted for 2027.