Qantas is gearing up to launch the world’s longest-ever commercial service between Sydney and London. At 9,188 nautical miles (10,573 miles or 17,016 km) and scheduled to exceed 20 hours, the nonstop journey linking the Australian and English capital cities will far outdo anything attempted by an airline before.
The Airbus A350-1000ULR will be used as a result, having been developed specifically for the task. Qantas ordered 12 of these from Airbus in May 2022 under its “ Project Sunrise ” plan to begin flying direct routes from Sydney Airport (SYD) to both New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Expectations are currently for the first of these to arrive next April, leaving the inaugural record-breaking flight at some point later in the year.
Tweaks have been made to the existing Airbus A350-1000 in order to bring the aircraft up to standard for the extreme distance.
Besides structural improvements and reinforced landing gear to allow for an increased maximum take-off weight (MTOW), an extra rear center tank has been permanently fitted to the -1000ULR.
The addition of this tank marks the most significant change between the duo.
Able to hold 5,283 (US) gallons (20,000 liters), it takes the -1000ULR’s usable fuel capacity to 48,893 gallons (185,076 liters), according to airport and maintenance planning documents from Airbus.
This increase in range is a direct result of the additional tank's capacity, making all the difference for nonstop flights.
The A350-1000ULR's capabilities are a testament to innovation in aviation.
Selecting the right aircraft for such a long-haul flight requires careful consideration and investment in specialized variants like the -1000ULR.
The A350-1000ULR's capabilities are a testament to innovation in aviation.
