Qantas‘ long-awaited Airbus A350-1000ULR has been spotted on the apron with its new Rolls-Royce engines at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) this week. This aircraft is the backbone of the airline’s Project Sunrise initiative, which plans to offer non-stop flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to the likes of London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and New York JFK Airport (JFK).

The first aircraft, which currently bears test registration F-WZNK, was spotted in Toulouse with its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, and the plane holds the manufacturer’s serial number MSN 707, with the frame first built in November 2025 last year. Qantas expects to receive its first A350 by the end of this year.

Flying the Qantas A350-1000ULR From Australia To The World

Credit: Qantas

The arrival of this aircraft is set to change how people can travel to and from Australia, with the airline boasting that the aircraft will take on the ‘final frontier’ of modern aviation, enabling nonstop services from Australia’s east coast to Europe and the eastern seaboard of North America.

In 2017, Qantas first announced plans for Project Sunrise, and by 2022 the airline signed an agreement to acquire up to 12 A350-1000ULR, with plans to operate more direct routes to Australia, offering less transit times and reducing the need to stop enroute, such as the airline’s current New York City service, which requires a stopover in Auckland Airport (AKL) in New Zealand.

With the first aircraft due by the end of this calendar year, the onboard cabins have already been revealed, featuring a brand-new wellbeing zone and a more spacious, ergonomically designed cabin that will provide comfort on what will become the world’s longest commercial flights.

A Unique Onboard Offering On The World’s Longest Flights

Credit: Airbus

Qantas has already partnered with industry leaders to design the onboard cabin with modern comfort and wellbeing at the center of its design. Caon Design, Neil Perry, and the University of Sydney Charles Perkins Centre have dedicated time to providing well-being first, and premium seating, custom lighting, and modern amenities in flight.

During the flight, the new Wellbeing zone is a dedicated space where travelers can move, stretch, and engage in light exercises, complemented by a selection of snacks and other refreshments. WiFi will be available across all cabins, along with Bluetooth connectivity to sync devices to the seatback entertainment.

Custom lighting will be offered across 12 lighting scenes, including Sunrise, Sunset, and Awake, curated to help travelers adjust to time zone changes and proven to reduce the effects of jet lag. More than 40% of all seats onboard are dedicated to First, Business, and Premium Economy, which is set to lure in high-paying travelers onto these unique ultra-long-haul flights.

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Spotted: Qantas’ 1st Airbus A350-1000ULR Takes Shape On Toulouse Assembly Line

An exciting milestone as the world’s first Airbus A350-1000ULR finally takes shape.

A350-1000ULR Specifications

Credit: Airbus

Qantas’ new A350-1000ULR covers a total length of 242 feet (73.7 meters) and a wingspan of 212 feet. With a max cruise speed of around Mach 0.85 (652 miles / 1,049 kilometers per hour), it will transport travelers from Sydney to New York in about 22 hours and from Sydney to London in about 20 to 22 hours.

Onboard, there will be six first class, 52 business, 40 premium economy, and 140 economy class seats, for a total capacity of 238 paying passengers. With a plan for 12 to join the oneworld carriers’ fleet, while New York and London are first on the table, it is widely speculated that the airline will add additional ultra-long-haul services as more aircraft enter the airline’s fleet.

Qantas currently operates a range of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and has recently also accepted delivery of the Airbus A321XLR, the narrowbody with the longest range of any single-aisle aircraft. The carrier is an airline currently deploying these aircraft on domestic routes between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, and will introduce them on international services between Brisbane and Manila later this year.