Ultra-long-haul flying was once a unique niche served for just a handful of marquee routes, but the incredible capabilities and operating economics of the Airbus A350 are proving that such long-range services can actually be quite a lucrative business model. What makes the aircraft so important is not just that it can fly exceptionally far, but rather that it can do so with the economics, reliability, and overall passenger comfort that airlines now need on missions that can stretch well beyond the 16-hour threshold.