Qantas unveils Airbus A350-1000ULR for world's longest flight Sydney-London

Qantas has unveiled its first ultra-long-range Airbus A350-1000ULR at Airbus's facility in Toulouse, set to operate the world's longest non-stop flight between Sydney and London from October 2027. The aircraft, part of Project Sunrise, features an additional fuel tank and extensive weight-saving measures making it about 40 tonnes lighter than a standard A350. Fuel consumption is comparable to a one-stop journey. The cabin has 238 seats, with 98 in premium cabins (41% of capacity), a higher proportion than typical long-haul aircraft. Australian designer David Caon and University of Sydney researchers contributed to a Wellbeing Zone for stretching and hydration. Overhead bins were removed from parts of the premium cabin to create more space. Professor Peter Cistulli of the University of Sydney advised on lighting, meal timing, and nutrition to adjust passengers' body clocks. Airbus executive vice-president Benoît de Saint-Exupéry noted that technologies from Project Sunrise will be used in future aircraft, including freighters. The first A350 is due for delivery in April 2026.