Airbus will conduct a marathon test flight of the A350-1000ULR, departing Toulouse non-stop for Melbourne with an expected arrival at 11:00 AM on 24 July 2026. This ultra-long-range validation marks the first Europe-to-Australia test leg in the multi-month EASA certification campaign, proving the aircraft’s 20,000-litre Rear Centre Tank enables ranges exceeding 18,500 km. The variant, optimized for 238 passengers, will power Qantas’ Project Sunrise, including the inaugural 22-hour Sydney–London service launching October 2027. First delivery is now projected for April 2027, delayed from late 2026 due to supply chain constraints. Turkish Airlines remains a probable future customer as the sector redefines ultra-long-haul non-stop connectivity limits.