Qantas has confirmed it will launch a landmark first ever direct flight linking Australia with London. The carrier said it will start non-stop flights from Perth to London using the 787-9 Dreamliner from March 2018
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says it marks a historic turning point in air travel.”This is a game-changing route flown by a game-changing aircraft. Australians have never had a direct link to Europe before, so the opportunities this opens up are huge. It’s great news for travellers because it will make it easier to get to London,” he said.
“It’s great news also for Western Australia because it will bring jobs and tourism and it’s great news for the nation, because it will bring us closer to one of our biggest trade partners and sources of visitors.”
The 14,498-kilometre journey on 787-9 Boeing Dreamliners will take about 17 hours when it takes off in April 2018 and will be one of the longest passenger flights in the world after Air India’s service between Delhi and San Francisco and Qatar Airways’ service between Doha and Auckland.
David Flynn, editor of Australian Business Traveller, said Qantas might consider direct flights from Australia to Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Chicago or New York in the future. Qantas also stated fares on the Perth-London route would be “competitive” with other flights, and would go on sale in April.
