CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Australia's flag carrier Qantas said it will begin non-stop flights between Perth and London, which would be Australia's first regular nonstop flight to Europe.
In a statement, Qantas said the 14,498 kilometre service, using new long-range Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, will begin in March 2018. It will take just 17 hours from Perth non-stop, and will be the third-longest passenger flight in the world.
The company noted that back in 1947, when Qantas created the Kangaroo Route to London, it took four days and nine stops.
The new flight would be the longest flight on the Qantas network, followed by non-stop A380 Sydney-Dallas service. It would also be the longest Boeing Dreamliner flight in the world.
Seats on the Perth-London flights will go on sale in April 2017 for the first services in March 2018. The 787-9 Dreamliners used on the route will carry 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the history-making route would be a watershed for travel, tourism and trade.
'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,' Joyce added.
The new flight will operate through Qantas' existing domestic terminals, which will be upgraded to accommodate international flights. The airline's current international services from Perth to Singapore and to Auckland will also move to this terminal.
Qantas said it will move its operations to an expanded Terminal 1 at Perth Airport by 2025, pending a commercial agreement.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX