Airbus completes longest A350-1000ULR test flight for Qantas. The manufacturer has successfully completed the longest test mission ever performed by the A350-1000ULR as it advances certification and validation for Qantas’ ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise operations. Airbus has completed another major milestone in the development of the A350-1000ULR for Qantas after conducting the longest test flight ever performed by the aircraft type.
Test aircraft MSN707 departed Toulouse on July 23 for Melbourne before returning to France on July 28, completing an ultra-long-haul mission covering 12,460 nautical miles with a total flight time of 24 hours and 24 minutes.
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The mission forms part of the development and validation campaign for the Ultra Long Range (ULR) variant, which is being designed to operate flights of up to 23 hours. The aircraft will play a central role in Qantas’ Project Sunrise, the airline’s initiative to launch nonstop services connecting Australia with destinations such as London and New York.
During the flights, Airbus engineers evaluated the performance of the new additional rear center fuel tank, which provides an extra capacity of 20,900 liters, along with environmental control systems and fuel management capabilities. According to Airbus test pilot Xavier Pepin, the outbound flight focused on stabilizing cabin temperature parameters and collecting passenger comfort data, while the return sector was dedicated to reserve fuel testing and the full validation of the aircraft’s ULR configuration.
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The campaign also included testing of the new dual flight crew rest compartment specifically developed for ultra-long-haul operations. The outbound flight was operated by four Airbus pilots, two flight engineers, and three flight test engineers, while the return flight included two Qantas pilots already qualified on the A350 but without previous experience on the A350-1000ULR.
To manage fatigue during the more than 24-hour mission, the flight crew followed staggered four-hour duty rotations with pilot changes every two hours, ensuring continuous operational coverage throughout the test. The successful mission marks another important step toward the operational certification of the A350-1000ULR ahead of its entry into service with Qantas.
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