The first commercial passengers to fly non-stop from Australia to Europe are scheduled to arrive at London Heathrow on Sunday 25 March. The flight cuts the journey by several hours and will, no doubt, be welcomed by international conference organisers.
The Qantas flight will set off from Perth, arriving in London 17 hours later.
The airline said 236 passengers aboard the 787-9 Dreamliner have paid A$2,270 (GBP1,243)) for an economy seat on a flight that does away with the usual Asian stops en route from Perth to London.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has called the inaugural flight a “gamechanger”.
When Qantas first set up the ‘Kangaroo Route’ to London in 1947 the journey took four days and nine stops.
The opportunities for the international conference delegate are now much greater.
Joyce added: “It’s great news because it will bring us closer to one of our biggest trade partners and source of visitors”.
The new route is the third longest passenger flight in the world, but the longest on a Dreamliner. Doha to Auckland with Qatar Airlines and LA to Singapore are longer, at 18 hours and 20 minutes and 17 hours, 55 minutes respectively.
Qantas says it will be offering probiotic shots and kombucha for digestion and grains and green veg for hydration as a way of combatting jet lag for passengers.
Brits, it seems, are getting the better deal, with tickets costing a third less in the UK due to market demand and currency, Qantas said.
