Airbus advances Qantas Project Sunrise with A350-1000ULR test flight

The first Airbus A350-1000ULR, the ultra-long-range version of the A350-1000, took off from Toulouse, France, on Thursday for a nonstop test flight to Melbourne, Australia.

The mission, expected to last about 19 hours, marks an important milestone in the development of future ultra-long-haul commercial flights, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

The test aircraft, registered F-WULR, quickly became the most-tracked flight on Flightradar24 shortly after takeoff, drawing the attention of aviation enthusiasts around the world.

The A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) was developed specifically for Qantas' Project Sunrise. The aircraft features an additional fuel tank with a capacity of approximately 20,000 liters, enabling it to operate nonstop flights of up to 22 hours.

Qantas has ordered 12 of these aircraft, each configured with 238 seats across four cabin classes, providing passengers with greater space and comfort on some of the world's longest commercial routes.

According to the airline's plans, the Airbus A350-1000ULR will eventually operate nonstop flights between Sydney and London and Sydney and New York, eliminating stopovers and reducing total travel time.

Project Sunrise is Qantas' initiative to introduce ultra-long-haul commercial services capable of directly connecting Australia with major cities in Europe and North America. The program is considered one of the most ambitious projects in commercial aviation and could reshape long-distance air travel.

Photo: Airbus