Australia to the UK direct flights with Qantas in 2017?

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October 13, 2015

In 2014, Qantas flew from Dallas to Sydney – covering 8,579 miles over a 16 hour 50 minute flight giving it title to the world’s longest direct flight, but Qantas might surpass its own world record in just two years time. 

At a conference today, Chief executive, Alan Joyce, said the airline could be flying from Australia to Britain non-stop within two years using the new state of the art 787-9 Dreamliner.

He said the range of the new aircraft meant flights from Perth to London, a journey of more than 14,000 kilometres and 18 hours would be feasible.

“The 787-9 has the range to operate such a route,” Joyce told Air Transport World. “This opens up direct service from Australia to Europe for the first time.”

The route would not be without its challenges. In order to make the distance, the flight would likely have to pass over the Crimea, which is currently off-limits to airlines in the wake of last year’s shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.  In addition to this, two pairs of pilots and extra cabin crew would be needed. There would also likely need to be a third meal service which means extra on board catering, space and waste. 

It could also raise issues on the return journey if an alternative airport to Perth was needed (due to thunderstorms, for example). The nearest major airport is Adelaide, more than 2000 kilometres further on.

In an interview with AirlineRatings back in August, Mr Joyce stated,  ‘The key reason we chose this particular aircraft is its incredible efficiency. Its new technology will reduce fuel burn, cut heavy maintenance requirements and open up new destinations around the globe’.

The 787-9s will have about 250 seats, including business class, premium economy and economy class. Qantas has eight 787-9 aircraft on order to replace the its ageing 747 jumbo jets.  The initial order was made possible by the airline’s massive $1.62 billion turnaround posting an underlying profit $975 million for the 2015 financial year.

Qantas also re-confirmed options and price rights for another 45 787s.

The airline’s turbulent love affair with the Boeing 787 started in December 2005 when it ordered 65 and took 50 options and price rights.

Program delays and changing fortunes at Qantas plus the 2008 GFC saw that order reduced to 14 with 50 options and price rights. And those 14 were for its low cost subsidiary Jetstar.

The “new” order will see one more 787-8 going to Jetstar for a fleet total of 11 and three of Jetstar’s allocation converted to Dash 9s and going to Qantas while five of the 50 options are converted to firm orders for the Dash 9.

The 787s which will start arriving in 2017 will initially replace older 400-seat 747s.

Mr Joyce told AirlineRatings.com that the airline would gradually acquire more 787s and they would be used to replace all 747s and the airline’s fleet of 18 A330s and for expansion.