One upon a time, Australian travellers had to take three jumps on the “kangaroo route” to the United Kingdom.
Thanks to extended range aircraft, it will soon be possible for some Australians to get to London in one giant leap.
According to a media release, Qantas is set to add to its list of aviation firsts, with the national carrier confirming it will operate non-stop flights from Perth to London using the 787-9 Dreamliner.
The 14,498 kilometre service will be the first regular passenger service to directly link Australia with Europe when it begins in March 2018. They will take bout 17 hours and will operate 14 times a week.
The longest regular airline route at the moment is an Emirates flight from Dubai to Auckland, a distance of 14,200 kilometers that takes between 16 hours (outbound) and 17hr 15min (return). (CNN)
The Qantas move follows other ultra-long-haul flights, including those between the Middle East and the United States and between Australia and South America.
As airliners become more efficient, though, it may change our attitudes to travel.
For example, many Australians discovered destinations in Asia and the Middle East due to the need for refuelling stops on trips to and from London. Without them, they may have just gone from point to point and missed out on amazing cultural experiences.
It’d be a shame if that spirit of adventure was lost in the hurry to get to the final destination as quickly and directly as possible.
