First direct air service between Australia and Europe launched

The first direct flight of a passenger plane from Australia to Great Britain (Perth-London), without stopovers, has taken place, reducing the travel time to 17 hours and 20 minutes, the Australian airline Qantas announced.

This is the first regular flight of 14,498 kilometers directly connecting the two continents, says Qantas, one of the world’s oldest airlines. This is the third longest commercial flight in the world.

This is also the longest commercial flight ever by Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which now transports over 200 passengers and features 16 crew members, headed by pilot Lisa Norman.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the history-making route would be a watershed for travel, tourism and trade, and Australian tourism officials hope that this will bring jobs and tourism to the less populated Western Australia.

One of the concerns was passenger comfort on a flight this long. Some passengers are therefore equipped with special devices enabling researchers from the Sydney University to collect data on sleep, brain activity, sitting and other activities, as well as about keeping hydrated during and after the flight, the Daily Telegraph of Sydney reports.

Qantas Airways Australia

direct flights from Europe to Australia

London Perth flights

London Perth flight

London Perth

Lisa Norman

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

longest commercial flights