India, June 3 -- Airbus has announced that the first A350-1000ULR aircraft (MSN 707), part of a 12-aircraft order for Qantas Airways, has successfully completed its maiden flight in Toulouse, France, marking the world's longest range ever.

Equipped with specialised flight test instrumentation, the aircraft flew for three hours and 43 minutes, reaching an altitude of just over 41,000 feet. The test flight was conducted by an Airbus flight test crew.

The A350-1000ULR is being developed for Qantas' ambitious "Project Sunrise," which aims to enable non-stop commercial flights between Sydney and destinations such as New York and London for the first time. The ultra-long-haul routes are expected to span nearly 10,000 nautical miles, with flig...