Airbus keeps an A350 flying for 24 hours

Airbus flew the latest A350 widebody variant, the A350-1000ULR, non-stop on a route from Australia to France, keeping the aircraft aloft for more than 24 hours. The “ULR” (Ultra-Long Range) version is enabled by an additional rear center fuel tank holding 20,900 liters, giving it a range of nearly 10,000 nautical miles (about 18,500 km/11,500 miles). Qantas, Airbus’s launch customer, plans to use the jets for direct Sydney–London and Sydney–New York flights starting in 2027. Earlier test flying included a 19-hour Toulouse–Melbourne segment on July 23-24, and a return flight lasting 24 hours 24 minutes. Flightradar24 recorded both legs.