Overview
- Qantas confirmed it will begin daily nonstop Sydney–London flights in October 2027 using specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft.
- The first ULR test aircraft has flown and Qantas is targeting an April 2027 delivery with ticket sales planned for February 2027, all subject to final Airbus certification and regulatory approvals.
- Airbus’s ULR changes include an integrated Rear Centre Tank that adds about 20,000 litres of fuel and small MTOW adjustments to extend range and preserve diversion fuel margins.
- Qantas will fit the ULR with just 238 seats in a four-class layout focused on premium cabins, a dedicated Wellbeing Zone and cabin systems informed by years of sleep and human‑factors research.
- The programme faces execution risks from supplier delays, certification work, fuel-price swings and airspace routing limits, even as Qantas projects roughly A$400 million a year from a 12‑aircraft ULR fleet if plans hold.