The route was about 17,750 kilometers long, reaching the finish after 19 hours and 19 minutes. Qantas has again completed an ultra long-haul flight without stopover - this time the journey went from London to Sydney.
"We have seen a double sunrise," says Qantas boss Alan Joyce. This refers to the fact that the passengers saw the sun rise twice due to the length of the flight and its direction.
"Touchdown", it says in the Twitter account of Qantas. "The time saved = 1 hour and 57 minutes" - compared to the connection from London via Singapore to Sydney. The remaining fuel at the landing amounted to about 6300 kilograms, which would have made possible in about one hour and 45 minutes flight time.
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From London to Sydney: 19 hours, 19 minutesAs part of its "Project Sunrise", the Australian airline is currently exploring two nonstop long-haul routes that are among the longest in the world. It was not until October that Qantas had successfully completed the non-stop connection from New York to Sydney for the first time. Whether this and London-London ultimately make it into the flight plan, the company wants to decide later.
The distance covered in October from New York to Sydney was 16,200 kilometers. This was more than 1500 kilometers shorter than the now completed from London to Sydney. Nevertheless, the flight duration was almost the same length: From the US, the Dreamliner needed three minutes less than from Europe - namely 19 hours and 16 minutes - which, according to Qantas is due to the wind conditions.
The ultra-long distance from London to Sydney was not a premiere. Once before, a Qantas crew flew this way non-stop - 30 years ago. On Twitter, the airline posted photos of the crew back then and today.
#ProjectSunrise research flight from #London to #Sydney with 52 pax, 6 crew and 4 flight crew commanded by Capt. Helen Trenerry # QF7879 is about to take off on its nonstop. Get 17.750km journey @ flightradar24. #QFnonstop pic.twitter.com/BMrUTpzhwP
- Qantas (@Qantas) November 14, 2019In 1989, the track was covered with a Boeing 747-400. This time it was a factory-fresh Boeing 787-9 named "Longreach". There were more than 50 passengers on board, who perform a special function. They are test pilots, because Qantas expects a lot of new findings from the test flights. They help to minimize "jet lag and improve wellbeing," Qantas writes.
It's all about comfort in the cabin and the stress that a flight lasting nearly 20 hours can trigger. Among other things, the brainwaves of fellow passengers are measured. On board are also scientists who interview pilots and passengers during the flight on specific topics. There are also analyzes on sleep patterns on the ultra-long distance.
"We will encourage passengers to sleep at ten in the morning," says project scientist Corinne Caillaud. The goal is to adjust the bodies of the travelers to the time in Sydney. For that, dinner will be served at breakfast time.
Rüdiger Wölk / imago images
A Boeing 787-9 on the way from London to Perth
But that's not the only thing Qantas wants to change on these marathon routes. "We know that travelers on such flights need space to move," says Qantas boss Joyce. He thought about introducing zones in which the passengers had room for stretching. Handles above the seats could encourage passengers to do small gymnastics exercises.
Who has the longest?
Currently, Singapore Airlines has the world's longest flight on offer: it takes up to 18 hours to travel between Singapore Changi and Newark New York City, west of New York City, for a journey of more than 15,000 kilometers. Qantas itself is already commercial on an ultra-long haul - from Perth on the west coast of Australia to London.
