Qantas has announced it will be launching its first direct flight between the UK and Australia in March 2018. The airline will fly from Heathrow Airport to Perth using the new Boeing787-9 Dreamliners. It will be the shortest and fastest version of the “Kangaroo Route” which was launched 1947 and took four days with nine stops.
Qantas says the 9,010 miles journey from Western Australia to London will take 17 hours. However the plane is bound to take longer and fly further in order to avoid dangerous airspace such as Iran and the disputed Crimea region.
Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO said: “When Qantas created the Kangaroo Route to London in 1947, it took four days and nine stops. Now it will take just 17 hours from Perth non-stop.
"This is a game-changing route flown by a game-changing aircraft. Australians have never had a direct link to Europe before, so the opportunities this opens up are huge."
He added that the airline was keen on enhancing passenger comfort during the 17-hour flight, going as far as redesigning their on-board service to help reduce jetlag. According to Mr. Joyce, the new flights would not only create the first direct flights between Europe and Australia but also create new jobs. He also hopes to it will promote tourism by bringing Australia "closer to one of our biggest trade partners and sources of visitors."
The airline claims their planes will carry 236 passengers in Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. They will also be fitted with a crew rest area above the passenger cabin.
Qantas new London-Perth flight becomes the third longest flight in the world and also the longest Boeing Dreamliner flight worldwide. This will be the second time the airline will fly between London and Sydney on an un-fuelled flight since 1989, a flight that took 19 hours and 52 minutes.
