Qantas: Non-stop flight to UK will happen within two years

[SeatBackForward]

Qantas: Non-stop flight to UK will happen within two years

10th October 2015 7:00 AM
by Simon Calder

Eighteen hours aloft, covering more than 9,000 miles and crossing eight time zones: not an endurance test for air force personnel but the future longest commercial flight in the world, intended to start within two years.

Qantas plans to connect the UK non-stop with Australia by 2017, using the latest Boeing 787-9 to fly between London and Perth. The airline's chief executive, Alan Joyce, told Air Transport World that the new aircraft "opens up direct service from Australia to Europe for the first time", and indicated that a flight from Heathrow to the Western Australia capital would be the obvious choice.

In recent years Qantas has cut back its previously extensive European network, including a Heathrow-Perth route that stopped en route in Asia to refuel. It is believed the Australian airline has leased slots at Heathrow to British Airways, which could be reclaimed for the new service.

Qantas: Non-stop flight to UK will happen within two years | Northern Star

 

[OATEK]

Might be a real alternative for those that are not keen on the DXB route.

 

[SeatBackForward]

For the majority of the Australian population its still a two hop journey. So if DXB doesn't bother you, this probably doesn't change much in that respect.

 

[Isochronous]

I will believe it when I see it!

For a flight that long they might want to look at an all J and PE config too.

 

[kermatu]

Interesting. Tough choices - 18 hours is a long time to be stuck in Y, so I agree an all PE/J/F service makes sense; but wouldn't most premium pax want to depart from SYD or MEL where there are better lounges and have their stop-off point somewhere in between to have a break (and again access better lounges) eg, Asia or DXB, rather than Perth?

Personally, I reckon the 787s will be used to restart a SIN-LHR leg, given how popular Singapore is for Aussies and Brits. I also hope it is used to restart direct flights to India. SYD-BOM-LHR would be a winner, surely? Or to go somewhere else in Europe entirely. Even when not flying it, I always get a kick out of seeing a QF plane in far flung ports like DFW, JFK or LHR. Be nice to see again in some continental European cities. EK doesn't fly to Berlin...

 

[Dr Ralph]

London to Perth direct with in 2 yrs, possible.

London to Sydney direct, unlikely in the next decade.

 

[exceladdict]

Qantas: Non-stop flight to UK will happen within two years

10th October 2015 7:00 AM
by Simon Calder

Eighteen hours aloft, covering more than 9,000 miles and crossing eight time zones: not an endurance test for air force personnel but the future longest commercial flight in the world, intended to start within two years.

Qantas plans to connect the UK non-stop with Australia by 2017, using the latest Boeing 787-9 to fly between London and Perth. The airline's chief executive, Alan Joyce, told Air Transport World that the new aircraft "opens up direct service from Australia to Europe for the first time", and indicated that a flight from Heathrow to the Western Australia capital would be the obvious choice.

In recent years Qantas has cut back its previously extensive European network, including a Heathrow-Perth route that stopped en route in Asia to refuel. It is believed the Australian airline has leased slots at Heathrow to British Airways, which could be reclaimed for the new service.

Qantas: Non-stop flight to UK will happen within two years | Northern Star

Edit: there does appear to be a new quote from AJ on air transport world but it's behind a paywall.

I will believe a new QF ex per intl route when it's ticketed

 

[dajop]

but wouldn't most premium pax want to depart from SYD or MEL where there are better lounges and have their stop-off point somewhere in between to have a break (and again access better lounges) eg, Asia or DXB, rather than Perth?

If QF is going to invest in a 18 hr premium route from PER, I am sure they will invest in a decent lounge in PER too. A big fan of the SIN-EWR route (RIP) in J, I can see premium passengers liking an 18 hr sector. It really does allow you flexibility to sleep, eat, watch IFE and/or work when you want to . You don't have to be interrupted by a transit mid journey. Also people do DFW-SYD non stop, even in Y. PER-LHR is only an extra 440 miles - one hour or so.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Adventurous reporting. No one is prepared to sit cramped in whY for so long. There have been a number of surveys on such long flights and viability over the years and they don't survey well.

 

[kamchatsky]

Surely people would perfer to transit via SIN or HKG or DXB than PER given you need to transit between terminals which are separate buildings, not to mention inferior lounge offering?

 

[yohy?!]

Surely people would perfer to transit via SIN or HKG or DXB than PER given you need to transit between terminals which are separate buildings, not to mention inferior lounge offering?

Think I saw that AJ mentioned that co-location of Dom and int flights at PER was coming soon also with the terminal upgrades

 

[kamchatsky]

Think I saw that AJ mentioned that co-location of Dom and int flights at PER was coming soon also with the terminal upgrades

Even if they are in same building, unless the standard is like SIN or HKG, I would still prefer to transit via SIN and HKG. Both are world's top airports.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Adventurous reporting. No one is prepared to sit cramped in whY for so long. There have been a number of surveys on such long flights and viability over the years and they don't survey well.

I think if they did the right mix it would be ok? 8 abreast in economy with say 34-36 inch pitch? I can't imagine QF dropping F to London though.

 

[vantage03]

787-9 won't have F which probably won't be appealing for the most frequent fliers who like to have the opportunity to upgrade to F, or pay for it, especially if the flight is 18 hours long.

Also, re: a comment above about EK not flying to Berlin, as much as I'd love a direct service there myself, the German Government protects long haul slots in Berlin for LH. The only reason QR have a flight there is that they started flying there 15 or 20 years ago.

 

[bsb]

I don't know why everyone engages in such wild speculation when the airline has ordered only a handful of aircraft and has stated these are to replace existing 744s which mean there will be no new routes. Full stop. End of speculation.

If they ordered another dozen or so aircraft, then you can go crazy on speculation. In any case, they wouldn't be here for a very long time and the aviation environment changes quite quickly so 5 years plus speculation is pointless. Plus the Airbus fleet will be looking tired soon, so more 787s may just replace the 330's.

 

[Mattg]

It will be interesting to see if Emirates would "allow" a direct QF PER-LHR service. I thought that under their agreement any Qantas flights to Europe would need to stop in Dubai.

Also, re: a comment above about EK not flying to Berlin, as much as I'd love a direct service there myself, the German Government protects long haul slots in Berlin for LH. The only reason QR have a flight there is that they started flying there 15 or 20 years ago.

LH don't have any long-haul flights departing Berlin...

 

[dmitri]

I don't think I would want to spend 18hrs in a plane. I'd rather have my stop overs to break it up. That's a long time for small kids to be in the one spot as well, they may need a sound proof play room to keep them calm.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't think I would want to spend 18hrs in a plane. I'd rather have my stop overs to break it up. That's a long time for small kids to be in the one spot as well, they may need a sound proof play room to keep them calm.

I think you'd have to tailor the interior fit-out accordingly, and market the flight accordingly. It may not be that the flight is for economy passengers, or passengers with families.

 

[defurax]

As mentioned above 18 hours is just 90 minutes more than DFW-SYD. People will fly in standard Y (9 abreast in a 787) if the price is competitive.

 

[TomVexille]

I still struggle to see see such a long sector being economical. Even with a 789 or A350.