Airbus A350-1000ULR Estimated to Out-Range Boeing 777X by Several Hundred Nautical Miles
Why It MattersUltra-long-range capability is concentrating in one in-service Airbus type while the 777X slips to 2027, reshaping which aircraft can credibly serve the world's longest nonstop city pairs.
The Airbus A350-1000ULR, a specially adapted A350-1000 developed with Qantas for its Project Sunrise initiative, is estimated to have a range beyond 9,700-10,000 nautical miles (18,000-18,520 km), although Airbus has not published a formal range figure. The variant adds a rear center fuel tank and optimized systems, allowing flights of around 22 hours nonstop. Qantas plans to use it on routes such as Sydney (SYD) to London Heathrow (LHR) and New York John F. Kennedy (JFK), cutting journey times by up to four hours compared with one-stop services. Qantas has ordered 12 of the type and is adding a Wellbeing Zone and features aimed at reducing jet lag for the longest sectors. The aircraft uses Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.
By comparison, the Boeing 777X family is led on range by the 777-8, at around 9,500 nautical miles (17,594 km), while the larger 777-9 has a range of around 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 km). Boeing advertises two-class layouts of up to 426 passengers on the 777-9 and 395 on the 777-8, and the aircraft uses GE9X engines and folding wingtips for gate compatibility. Emirates expanded its 777X order book to 270 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, while Boeing has removed 33 orders from the backlog amid delays. First delivery of the 777X is now slated for 2027, roughly seven years late.
The A350-1000 is already in service, with 373 orders and 120 deliveries as of October 2026, and Air Canada placed a firm order for eight in February 2026.
