Airbus A350 Completes Record 24-Hour Test Flight Ahead of Qantas Ultra-Long-Haul Services

An Airbus A350 specifically configured for ultra-long-haul journeys has successfully completed a record-setting test flight, covering 23,076 kilometers in 24 hours and 24 minutes. The aircraft landed in Toulouse, France, after departing from Melbourne, Australia, simulating a potential passenger route that traversed three continents and two oceans, experiencing two sunrises and two sunsets.

This milestone flight is a crucial step for Australian airline Qantas, which intends to deploy this specialized A350-1000 ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft for direct flights to Europe. The airline plans to launch direct services from Sydney to London in October 2027, with aspirations to later introduce direct flights from Sydney to New York.

Qantas has been developing its ultra-long-haul capabilities for nine years, facing repeated postponements. The airline has ordered twelve of these A350-1000 ULR models, which are equipped with an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank to enable such extensive flights. The test flight involved Airbus employees responsible for testing and two Qantas pilots who monitored adjustments to the extended fuel tank, ventilation system, and noise reduction measures for passengers.

Previously, a test flight from Toulouse to Melbourne covered approximately 17,000 kilometers in 19 hours and 12 minutes. If Qantas proceeds with its planned routes, it would surpass the current longest commercial flight, which connects Singapore and New York. That route, operated by Singapore Airlines with a different A350 variant, spans 15,350 kilometers and takes over 18 hours.