Overview
- Qantas publicly unveiled its first specially modified Airbus A350‑1000ULR on Friday, June 19, 2026, showing the production aircraft at Airbus’s Toulouse facility.
- The carrier revealed a low‑density 238‑seat layout that includes six enclosed First suites, 52 Business suites, 40 Premium Economy seats and 140 Economy seats with 42 Economy Plus positions.
- Airbus engineers added an integrated rear centre fuel tank that increases range by about 1,000 nautical miles, enabling nonstop flights of up to roughly 22 hours for routes like Sydney–London and later Sydney–New York.
- Qantas says the A350‑1000ULRs are in flight testing with deliveries due to start in April 2027 and an inaugural Sydney–London service scheduled for October 2027, while crew training, passenger trials and regulatory certification continue.
- The cabin design focuses on passenger wellbeing—scientifically timed lighting, a dedicated Well‑being Zone, flexible meal windows and upgraded IFE and Wi‑Fi—and Qantas expects a premium product that may raise costs and shift competition on long‑haul routes.