Airbus has completed a record-breaking non-stop flight from Australia to France, keeping its new A350-1000ULR (Ultra-Long Range) variant airborne for over 24 hours. The flight is a key milestone for launch customer Qantas, which plans to use the aircraft for direct routes between Australia and Europe, as well as to New York, cutting out the intermediate stops currently required on such long-haul journeys.

The A350-1000ULR gains its extended reach from an additional rear centre fuel tank holding 20,900 litres, giving it a range of almost 10,000 nautical miles (18,500km). The Melbourne-to-Toulouse leg lasted 24 hours and 24 minutes and covered 23,076km, setting a distance record for a commercial airliner, following an earlier 19-hour Toulouse-to-Melbourne test flight in July. Qantas intends to buy a dozen of the jets for daily non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York from 2027, with Australia–Europe journeys taking up to 22 hours; the airline plans tiered economy seating, a standing area, tailored menus and lighting to ease the ordeal for passengers.