Qantas’ first non-stop London to Perth service took off yesterday (Sunday) on the only direct air link between Europe and Australia.
The 16 hour, 40 minute flight time to Western Australia makes the service the fastest way of travelling between the two countries.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service carried more than 200 passengers and 16 crew on the 236-capacity aircraft.
The 9,319-mile flight is operated by four pilots, with one or two pilots resting at any one time. It is the third longest commercial flight currently in operation.
The flight reduces total travel time by eliminating stopovers and taking advantage of the most favourable winds on any given day without having to factor in a mid-point when choosing a flight path, according to the carrier.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, who landed at Heathrow on Sunday morning on the first direct Perth-London service, said the new route was a major milestone for global aviation.
“This is a truly historic flight that opens up a new era of travel. For the first time, Europe and Australia have a direct air link,” he said.
“The original kangaroo route from London to Australia was named for the seven stops it made over four days back in 1947. That initial flight was a modern marvel when it started, and the journey gradually became shorter over the years. Now we can do it in a single leap.
“We know lots of people in the UK want to visit Australia but find the journey a bit daunting. This is now the fastest and simplest way to fly down under.
“It’s going to make a big difference for people visiting friends and family on both sides of the world, as well as holidaymakers and business travellers.”
Joyce said a huge amount of work had gone into improving the experience for customers taking the 17-hour journey.
“This is hands-down the most comfortable aircraft that Qantas has ever put in the sky,” he added.
“Boeing designed the Dreamliner with features to reduce jetlag, turbulence and noise. We’ve taken that a step further with our cabin design, giving passengers more space in every class as well as bigger entertainment screens and more personal storage.
“We’ve worked with the University of Sydney and our consulting chef Neil Perry to create a menu that helps the body cope better with jetlag and adjusted the timing of when we serve food to encourage sleep.”
The new direct link means that Qantas now operates three routes between the UK and Australia – a daily Dreamliner service to Melbourne via Perth, a daily Airbus A380 London to Sydney service via Singapore, and via Dubai with partner Emirates.