European aerospace giant Airbus has successfully completed another test flight of its ultra-long-range A350-1000 ULR, covering nearly 17,000 kilometers from Toulouse to Melbourne in 19 hours and 12 minutes. The aircraft is set to enter commercial service next year on the world’s longest scheduled route between Sydney and London.
The test flight departed from Airbus’s facility in Toulouse, France, and landed in Melbourne, Australia, after covering 16,900 kilometers without a stop. This was the second such trial – the first took place in June 2026 without passengers. The flights are part of preparations for the launch of Qantas’s ultra-long-haul services.
Qantas orders 12 A350-1000 ULRs
Australia’s flag carrier Qantas has placed an order for 12 of these aircraft. The first unit is scheduled for delivery in April 2027, with commercial flights between Sydney and London to begin in October 2027. The airline will operate the aircraft in a three-class configuration – business, first, and economy – carrying between 300 and 350 passengers.
– Millions of people travel between Australia and Britain every year to visit family, take holidays or do business – said Don Farrell, Australia’s tourism minister, commenting on the significance of the new route.
During the ongoing test series, Airbus is also evaluating the psychophysical endurance of pilots and cabin crew. It is expected that two separate flight crews will operate the ultra-long sectors.
Seasonal routing and fuel consumption
A unique feature of the Sydney–London connection will be its seasonal variability. For eight months of the year the flight path will cross the Indian Ocean toward Africa and then on to Europe. Between December and March, however, aircraft will be routed over the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Strait and northeastern Greenland to avoid strong headwinds.
Each flight will require approximately 168,000 liters (135 tonnes) of jet fuel to cover the roughly 17,000-kilometer distance. Hourly fuel burn is estimated at between 6 and 7.5 tonnes.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Matti Blume / Wikimedia Commons / CC 4.0 BY-SA
