Key facts
- Qantas Airways plans to launch a nonstop flight between London and Sydney, expected to be the world's longest.
- The flight will cover 17,015 kilometers (10,573 miles) and is scheduled to begin in October next year.
- Specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR jets will operate the route, carrying 238 passengers.
- The journey is anticipated to take between 19 and 22 hours.
- Qantas expects to charge a premium for the direct service compared to flights with layovers.
Qantas Airways is set to launch the world's longest direct flight, a 22-hour journey between London and Sydney, beginning in October of next year. The airline revealed its specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, designed to cover the 17,015-kilometer route nonstop. This new service surpasses Singapore Airlines' current longest route between Singapore and New York.
The customized Qantas A350-1000ULR will accommodate 238 passengers, a significantly lower number than a standard A350-1000, with 140 seats designated for economy class. This configuration, along with an additional fuel tank, is intended to enhance passenger comfort and enable the ultralong-haul flight. Qantas anticipates that passengers will pay a premium for the convenience of the direct service, which is expected to save up to four hours of travel time compared to flights with a stopover.
Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings, noted that while business class passengers might benefit from uninterrupted sleep, she would personally prefer a shorter, broken journey in economy due to the potential discomforts of a 22-hour flight. She also highlighted that such long flights rely heavily on premium passenger revenue due to weight limitations on cargo.
Following the establishment of the London-Sydney route, Qantas plans to introduce another ultralong-haul direct service from Sydney to New York, covering a distance of 16,013 kilometers.