Airbus completes first flight of plane that can fly non-stop for nearly a full day

Airbus announced its A350-1000ULR (MSN 707) aircraft has completed its first flight in Toulouse, France. (Airbus)

Airbus said Tuesday its A350-1000ULR widebody aircraft capable of flying up to 22 hours non-stop has successfully completed a first test flight.

“The aircraft, fitted with special flight test instrumentation, flew for three hours 43 minutes reaching an altitude of slightly above 41,000 feet (12,500 metres),” the European aircraft manufacturer said in a statement.

The aircraft, marketed with the ULR designation that stands for ultra long-range, is one of 12 ordered by Australian airline Qantas to allow it to carry out non-stop flights between Sydney and London.

Airbus said it now plans to deliver the first A350-1000ULR to Qantas in April 2027. The airline had initially hoped to start the non-stop Sydney-London service in 2025.

Tuesday’s test flight from Airbus’s facility in the southern French city of Toulouse started two months of tests to certify modifications made from the existing three versions of the A350, including for the additional fuel tank that allows it to fly some 18,500 kilometres (11,500 miles).

The longest commercial flight currently in operation is a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to New York, which covers 15,350 kilometres in over 18 hours.