In total, cabins will have 238 seats, the lowest seat count of any A350-1000 in service.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s largely a reflection of how the huge amount of fuel required for the long journey impacts route economics.<\/p>\n
Qantas’ new A350-1000ULR at the Airbus manufacturing facility in Toulouse, France.<\/p>\n
Airbus said: \u201cPreparations for the test aircraft\u2019s first flight are also at an advanced stage, with it ready to take to the skies in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will mark the start of a two-month flight test programme focused primarily on the modified fuel system, which will enable non-stop flights of up to 22 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Qantas ordered 12 of the A350-1000ULRs in May 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen these services take off, passengers will save up to four hours off the journey,\u201d a Qantas spokesperson told the Herald today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree aircraft are needed to run a daily non-stop service on either route.<\/p>\n
\u201cPilot training is well underway at our new A350 simulator in Sydney, and next month we\u2019ll announce the first route and timing of our inaugural commercial services.\u201d<\/p>\n
Qantas said while the first aircraft delivery had shifted to April 2027, the next four deliveries should follow in quick succession.<\/p>\n
That would put Project Sunrise on its original schedule by November, the Australian airline said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to work closely with Airbus on the delivery and certification process that will enable us to begin operating these history-making ultra-long-haul flights.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new ultra-long-haul or ultra-long-range (ULR) widebody at the Airbus factory in Toulouse. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
In 2024, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency asked Airbus to redesign an extra fuel tank.<\/p>\n
Delivery dates were then pushed back by about six months to mid-2026.<\/p>\n
Reuters at the time reported that global aviation regulators were more closely scrutinising aircraft variant design changes after two deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes<\/a> in 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n Qantas in April this year said there was strong demand for flights to Europe<\/a> and it was ramping up services to Paris and Rome but cutting domestic services.<\/p>\n Qantas international and freight chief executive Cam Wallace discussed the project with the Herald when he visited Auckland in December<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re still working with Airbus on Project Sunrise coming to life in 2027,\u201d he said at the time.<\/p>\n The airline already had some ultra-long-haul services such as Perth-Paris, Perth-London, Perth-Rome, Rome-Sydney and Melbourne-Dallas.<\/p>\n Another such service is Auckland-New York, where it competes with Air New Zealand.<\/p>\n Singapore Airlines currently operates the world\u2019s longest regular airline service, flying Singapore-New York.<\/p>\n That journey typically takes 18.5 to 19 hours.<\/p>\n Sydney-New York and Sydney-London would be longer flights than any commercial service worldwide.<\/p>\n