The longest journey

Australia’s national carrier Qantas plans to launch the longest direct flight in five years

Qantas has announced its plan to launch nonstop flights from Sydney to London in five years. David Gray / Reuters

National Editorial

The race to offer the world’s longest direct flight is heating up. Qantas, Australia’s national carrier, has announced it plans to launch non-stop flights from Sydney to London, using the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, within five years. The journey, which covers more than 15,000 kilometres, would take about 18 hours.

Most of the longest routes originate from this region – from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai and Jeddah, for instance, to destinations such as Auckland and Los Angeles – and if flight distances do grow, then the Gulf carriers will also seize this opportunity.

Experts point out that Qantas will only win on the Sydney-London route if passengers don’t mind being stuck on a plane for almost a full day and if the cost of the flight is more attractive than services that offer stopovers in this region. That said, ultra long-haul tends to attract business travellers who are willing to pay a premium for a non-stop flight. There is also the question of whether consumers will eventually prefer to travel faster than farther. Surely, one day, speed will trump endurance in long-distance flights.