Qantas this week shared the first photos of a special A350 variant it plans to fly nonstop to New York and London.
The first production aircraft of the type, known as the A350-1000ULR, was moved to Airbus’ assembly line in Toulouse, France, recently after its fuselage sections, wings, tail, and landing gear were attached. It will now have its engines and flight test instruments installed, with flight testing expected to begin in 2026.
The A350-1000ULR is being developed as part of Qantas’ “Project Sunrise,” which aims to connect the east coast of Australia with far-flung destinations around the world. The aircraft will fly for up to 22 hours nonstop, made possible by an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank and enhanced operating systems.
The airline expects the ultra-long-range variant to save up to four hours of travel time compared to current flights between Australia and New York and London, which require one or more stops.
Qantas selected the A350 for its Project Sunrise flights in 2019. Boeing’s 777X had also been in the running.
“Given Australia’s position in the world, Qantas has a long history of breaking aviation barriers,” Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said in a statement. “Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world.”
Qantas said it has tailored the A350-1000ULR to meet the needs of passengers on exceptionally long flights. The type will come with 238 seats rather than the standard 350 to 410 to give travelers more room, and a dedicated “Wellbeing Zone” – featuring stretch handles, guided onscreen exercises, and refreshments – will be installed between the premium economy and economy cabins. The carrier will also use customized lighting and specially timed meals to help passengers combat jet lag.
The first of 12 new A350-1000ULRs is expected to be delivered to Qantas in late 2026. The first commercial Project Sunrise flights are tentatively scheduled for 2027.
