Qantas will decide on a Perth to Paris non-stop service for late 2019 by December after evaluating nine months of operations of the London non-stop flight.
En route to London on the inaugural Perth to London flight on Saturday, the airline’s chief executive Alan Joyce told AirlineRatings.com that the Paris route – or another European destination such as Frankfurt – “would be evaluated against the success of the Perth to London service.”
Read Natalie Richards” Economy Class Review
And the signs look good.
“The response to the flight has been amazing, both for the attention it’s received and the bookings we’ve seen coming in,” said Mr Joyce.
“Bookings are particularly strong in premium classes and for the next month we have 90 percent load factor.”
Read: Qantas Boeing 787 defeats the tyranny of distance.
Mr Joyce added that the spread of bookings was about 60 per cent to or from Perth and 40 per cent to and from Melbourne and other ports.
Qantas used newest 787 Dreamliner ‘Emily’ to operate the inaugural service, which features a livery based on the artwork Yam Dreaming by Indigenous artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
But just in case of a technical glitch the airline had a plan B in the form of a second 787 ironically registered – VH-ZNB – sitting beside Emily at Perth Airport fueled up ready to go.
However, it wasn’t needed and push back was at 6.49pm – a minute early.
With Captain Jeff Foote, the pilot flying, taxi to runway 21 was effortless.
And so was the take-off, which was met with hundreds of flashes from cameras from the thousands of well-wishers in the viewing area below, as the Boeing 787-9 streaked past and into history.
Throughout the cabin when the nose lifted signally flight there were cheers and clapping from the more than 220 passengers.
Tropical Cyclone Marcos, off the West Australian coast, tried its best to disrupt the flight with some light bumps but it only delayed festivities for an hour allowing passengers to get a head start on their movie marathon.
The Boeing 787’s much touted turbulence suppression smoothed out the jolts.
Once the seat belt sign was off the festivities kicked in.
Champagne flowed as many forgot – for a few hours at least – the University of Sydney’s great work on how to survive a 17-hour flight.
This was history.
The media roamed the cabin talking with the many enthusiasts on the flight.
There were a group of 6 who had flown to Melbourne to join QF9 at its origin.
Led by Amity Travel’s Luke Chittock, they had snared their bookings when the flight was operating its previous scheduled to London via Dubai.
Mr Chittock had the prized seat 1A and two of his fellow enthusiasts – Isabelle Chu and Brian Conway – had 2A and 3A.
The Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, took a back seat in 7F.
A veteran of many inaugural flights, Mr Chittock said that the 787 flight “was the best.”
“Everything about this flight has been brilliant,” said Mr Chittock.
Those thoughts were echoed by Mr McGowan.
“This is an amazing flight and it’s great for WA and tourism to our state.”
“We must maximize on the opportunities this flight provides to see our marvelous beautiful state,” said Mr McGowan.
The Premier and Tourism Minister Paul Papalia have a whirlwind round of engagements in London and Europe to promote WA tourism.
Mr Papalia said that the non-stop London flight put Perth on the map with other countries such as China.
“Now other destinations we are targeting are taking us seriously,” Mr Papalia said.
Many passengers were on board because it was the first non-stop flight to London but those who were on by sheer chance, reveled in the steady stream of television cameras and photographers that passed by.
British expat John Dewberry, who was travelling to visit family in the south of England, travelled with his wife Martina and children Isabel, 5, and Sam, 3, in economy.
“I think we’re the only family on board, we’re probably the only ones mad enough,” he quipped at the start of the flight.
Yet, just a few hours from the end, the children were rested and engrossed in children’s movie Coco.
“Isabelle’s slept loads… it’s going quite well,” he said.
“I think I prefer doing it this way, without a stop.
“It’s a hassle having to get everything off and go around the airport to get back on again.”
And that sentiment was broadly echoed throughout the cabin.
Read: Qantas’ healthy soothing lounge
Tom Harris in row 42C, also in economy, said he didn’t miss the [Dubai] stop at all.
“I could just stretch my legs walking around here in the cabin.
“It was a very comfortable and enjoyable flight,” said Mr Harris
The combination of the 787’s lower cabin altitude and higher humidity with the research done by University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre into foods and mood lighting appear to have won over passengers.
CNN’s Richard Quest summed it up well.
“Qantas have nailed ultra-long-haul flying by bringing science into the equation.”
“This is superb.”
Geoffrey Thomas travelled to London as a guest of Qantas.
