The A350-900ULR frequently makes headlines for its astonishing range, and the A350-1000ULR will likely garner similar attention once Project Sunrise is launched by Qantas. However, all Airbus A350 variants have an incredibly impressive range. The spread across all variants is 8,500 to 9,700 nautical miles. No range has been published for the A350-1000ULR, but it is expected to remain in the air for 22 hours.

Find out the exact ranges for each A350 variant. You can then learn more about how advanced materials and design decisions facilitate the impressive range, and how this aircraft continues to be commercially successful.

What Are The Ranges Of The A350 Variants?

A standard Airbus A350-900 has a range of 8,500 nautical miles (15,740 km). The larger A350-1000 has a longer range of 9,000 nautical miles (16,668 km). This is overtaken by the 9,700 nautical miles (17,964 km) of the A350-900ULR. To facilitate the additional fuel needed for this range, the A350-900ULR has a higher maximum takeoff weight of 322 tons. This is the same as that available on the standard A350-1000, increased to this level in October 2023.

The table below shows the ranges of the A350 variants, as far as they have currently been published:

An A350-1000ULR will be able to conduct 22-hour missions. This extra range is facilitated by adaptations that reduce seating to 238 passengers, facilitating a 20,000-liter (4,400 gallon) rear center fuel tank.

How Singapore Uses Its A350-900ULRs

In 2018, Singapore Airlines announced that it would use its A350-900ULRs, a variant exclusive to the carrier, to fly the world’s longest routes in commercial aviation. The route from Singapore to Newark began on 11 October 2018, initially served three times a week. This route travels a distance of approximately 9,000nm (16,700km), with a traveling time of 18 hours and 45 minutes. Singapore Airlines’ CEO, Goh Choon Phong, said:

“Singapore Airlines has always taken pride in pushing the boundaries to provide the best possible travel convenience for our customers, and we are pleased to be leading the way with these new non-stop flights using the latest-technology, ultra-long-range Airbus A350-900ULR. The flights will offer our customers the fastest way to travel between the two cities – in great comfort, together with Singapore Airlines’ legendary service – and will help boost connectivity to and through the Singapore hub.”

Singapore has now greatly expanded the number of destinations that it serves from Singapore using the Airbus A350-900ULR. This includes New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The First A350-1000ULR Is Under Construction In Toulouse

Qantas’ Project Sunrise, where A350s will fly further than ever before, may arrive soon as the carrier’s first A350-1000ULR is already taking shape in Toulouse, where Airbus has its manufacturing facility. Qantas’ Newsroom has announced that key airframe components have now all been attached. This includes the forward, center, and rear fuselage sections along with the wings, tail, and landing gear. The manufacturer then transferred the aircraft to a new hangar to have its engines and testing instruments installed. This all sets up the jet for an extensive testing program to begin in 2026.

Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson explained the importance of the jet for Project Sunrise in Qantas Newsroom’s press release: “Given Australia’s position in the world, Qantas has a long history of breaking aviation barriers. Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world. These flights will cut up to four hours off the journey and transform how people experience ultra-long-haul travel, through science-backed design to minimize jetlag and maximize wellbeing.”

Following the testing regime, Qantas expects the first 12 A350-1000ULR to be delivered in late 2026. That will allow Project Sunrise services to begin during the first half of 2027.

How Does The A350 Achieve Such Remarkable Range?

This article has displayed the exceptional range of the A350. It is a key selling point, facilitated by astonishing efficiency and enormous fuel tanks. Airbus claims that its design decisions and advancements for the aircraft make it 25% more fuel-efficient than long-haul aircraft from the previous generation.

A key reason that the aircraft is so efficient is its advanced Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, which exclusively power the jet. The engine also produces a tremendous amount of power needed to lift the enormous amount of fuel required for ultra-long-range flights. The Trent XWB-97 engine is the most powerful Rolls-Royce engine to enter commercial operations, producing 97,000 lbf (431 kN) of thrust on takeoff. The table below features key specifications for the -84 and -87 variants of the engine according to the EASA’s Type Certificate Data Sheet:

The aircraft uses a clean-sheet design. Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer fuselage and wings are featured in over half of the airframe’s structure. This material has led to substantial weight reductions while maintaining the required strength. The aircraft also has high-aspect-ratio wings and modern winglets. As a result, drag is reduced while the necessary lift is maintained.

A350s Are Finding New Customers

Extensive, successful long-range operations are leading new airlines to consider bringing in the A350. In November 2024, Emirates announced that it had taken delivery of its first A350-900 at its Dubai International Airport (DXB) hub. This aircraft was the first of the carrier’s orders for 65 A350s. This aircraft, registered A6-EXA, was also the first widebody aircraft of a new type to be delivered to Emirates since 2008. That year, the Middle Eastern carrier received its first-ever A380. As with many other Airbus deliveries in recent years, this delivery was powered by a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and regular fuel. The jet entered service shortly after, flying first to Edinburgh in January 2024. The A350s were first deployed to serve nine new routes, as announced in May 2024.

Emirates expected its new A350-900s to be a game-changer, allowing the carrier to serve more destinations with better efficiency and flexibility. Adnan Kazim, the deputy president and chief commercial officer (CCO) of Emirates, said: “With the latest generation cabin products including more of our sought-after Premium Economy to more cities, top-notch in-flight entertainment technologies and an abundance of other customer-friendly features, the Emirates A350 builds on our long-standing commitment of investing in the very best customer experience in the sky.”

As of November 2025, the carrier had 13 A350-900s in its fleet, with a remaining 52 on order. The jets are currently all in a three-class configuration, totaling 312 seats. The carrier has also planned to incorporate an additional layout into its A350-900s flying the furthest. These aircraft will have just 298 seats, but an extra row of premium economy and more galley space. Not all the routes currently flown on Emirates A350s from Dubai are exclusive to that aircraft. This includes the route to Amman (A380), Dammam (777-300ER), and Kuwait City (777-300ER).

The A350 Achieves Its High Range While Being Quieter

Despite its incredibly powerful engines and the need to lift a huge amount of fuel into the sky, the A350 is an incredibly quiet aircraft. The manufacturer claims that the A350 is five decibels quieter than its competitors and aircraft from the last generation. The noise in front of the cabin is also nine decibels quieter. Compared with the Airbus A330, the A350 has a 50% lower noise footprint. Such noise reduction is essential for comfortable flying during trips that regularly exceed 10 hours, making it easier for passengers to sleep. Producing less noise also reduces the impact on communities near airports or the wildlife that lives alongside them.

A number of factors allow this aircraft to operate more quietly. Firstly, the jet’s engines have a lower fan tip speed, and the engine’s shape and nacelles manage airflow to reduce noise. The aircraft’s aerodynamic shape also reduces drag. As drag produces noise, the shape reduces noise during flight. Finally, the cabin features soundproofing technology. Any noise that does travel from the engines to the cabin will be heavily dampened.

Reducing noise also allows airlines to operate across more hours of the day and night. Under pressure from neighboring communities, many airports have to deal with Heathrow-style restrictions that limit flying hours. Such limits can be pushed wider by quieter aircraft. Opening up more slots in this way is particularly important at the world’s busiest airports.