Qantas has announced that the very first Airbus A350-1000ULR is taking shape in Airbus’s final assembly line in Toulouse. The airline and manufacturer have shared images of the aircraft that will enable Qantas’s long-awaited Project Sunrise, a network of routes connecting Australia’s East Coast to London and New York nonstop. The two parties have also confirmed the marketing name for the plane, the Airbus A350-1000ULR, as well as its specifications.
The Project Sunrise routes are to be the world’s longest flights when they finally launch, comfortably beating out Singapore Airlines’ nonstop route from New York-JFK to Singapore, currently the world’s longest nonstop flight by great circle distance, by a comfortable margin. Qantas currently has 12 of these aircraft on order exclusively for the Project Sunrise routes, along with 12 standard A350-1000s.
The World’s First A350-1000ULR Takes Shape
Qantas and Airbus have unveiled the world’s first A350-1000ULR. The aircraft, MSN 707, has had all airframe components attached, along with the wings, tail, and landing gear, as of November 7, 2025. Later this week, the aircraft will be transferred to a new hangar to receive its engines and flight instruments. In 2026, MSN 707 will begin an extensive flight test campaign before receiving approval for the modifications.
The Airbus A350-1000ULR will come with a new 322T Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) option, but the bigger change to the aircraft is the introduction of a new 5,283 gallon (20,000 liter) rear fuel tank along with enhanced software. Likely, the software is similar to that of the A350-900ULR, allowing the plane to use more volume in the center fuel tank. However, the A350-900ULR does not have a rear fuel tank, and it also comes with a deactivated forward cargo hold, a feature that has not been confirmed to be present on the A350-1000ULR.
The A350-1000ULR is expected to be delivered to Qantas in late 2026, for entry into service in early 2027. Initially, the aircraft will fly shorter routes for crew familiarization before being deployed on Project Sunrise routes. Qantas has 12 A350-1000ULRs on order, along with 12 standard Airbus A350-1000s, which will be used to replace Qantas’s Airbus A380 fleet starting in 2028.
Inside The Airbus A350-1000ULR
While the A350-1000ULR will be the most capable and longest-ranged Airbus aircraft ever, this still isn’t quite enough to enable the advertised 22-hour flights on its own. To make Project Sunrise a reality, Qantas is configuring the planes with just 238 seats, the least of any Airbus A350-1000. But unlike Singapore Airlines’ A350-900ULRs, which only feature business and premium economy, Qantas’s A350-1000ULRs will come in a four-class layout.
With these planes, Qantas will be debuting a new first class suite built by Safran with privacy doors and a seperate bed, of which there will be six in a three-abreast layout. Behind first class will be 52 business class suites based on the Safran Unity, arranged four-abreast. Behind business class will be 40 premium economy seats in an eight-abreast layout. These seats will feature 13.3-inch (33.78 centimeter) screens, along with 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) of legroom and privacy wings.
There will only be 140 economy seats, arranged nine-abreast. The economy cabin will be located exclusively between the third and fourth sets of doors. These seats are based on the Recaro R3 and will feature 13.3-inch (33.78 centimeter) screens, along with 33 inches (83.82 centimeters) of legroom. Not only that, but Qantas will install a “Wellbeing Zone” in between the economy and premium economy cabins, which will feature self-serve refreshments, integrated handles for stretching, and guided wellbeing videos.
What Project Sunrise Entails
Project Sunrise is the collective title for a new set of ultra-long-haul routes that are to be launched by Qantas. The project had been in the works since 2017, and Qantas staged a competition between Airbus and the Boeing 777X before going with the A350-1000ULR. Flights are set to commence in 2027, roughly a decade after the project was first announced.
The flagship route of Project Sunrise will be a new nonstop route from Sydney to London Heathrow Airport, while Qantas is also planning to connect Melbourne to London and both cities to New York. Additionally, the A350-1000ULR is confirmed to be coming to the current route from Perth to London, displacing the Boeing 787-9 currently operating it.
|
Origin |
Destination |
Great Circle Distance (NM) |
Great Circle Distance (km) |
Airline |
Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sydney |
London-Heathrow |
9,188 NM |
17,016 km |
Qantas |
Airbus A350-1000ULR |
|
Melbourne |
London-Heathrow |
9,127 NM |
16,904 km |
Qantas |
Airbus A350-1000ULR |
|
Melbourne |
New York-JFK |
9,015 NM |
16,695 km |
Qantas |
Airbus A350-1000ULR |
|
Sydney |
New York-JFK |
8,646 NM |
16,013 km |
Qantas |
Airbus A350-1000ULR |
|
Singapore |
New York-JFK |
8,288 NM |
15,349 km |
Singapore Airlines |
Airbus A350-900ULR |
|
Doha |
Auckland |
7,848 NM |
14,535 km |
Qatar Airways |
Boeing 777-200LR |
|
Perth |
London-Heathrow |
7,829 NM |
14,499 km |
Qantas |
Boeing 787-9 |
While these are the confirmed routes, Qantas has also stated that other cities could come, depending on the success of the initial routes. Given that Qantas has found success with its nonstop routes to Europe from Perth, it’s certainly possible that Project Sunrise may be expanded. These planes will also be some of Qantas’s most premium, especially once the Airbus A380s are retired.
