The plane is being specially modified so it can fly the impressive route
It will become the longest nonstop flight in the world(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A new flight is set to become the longest non-stop journey in the world from next year. The title of the longest nonstop flight is currently held by Singapore Airlines and takes 19 hours to travel from Singapore to New York.
However, it won’t hold the record for long, as Qantas is set to launch a new non-stop route in 2027. It is planning a nonstop flight from Sydney, Australia, to London.
Thanks to a 20,000-litre fuel tank, the plane wouldn’t need to stop to refuel. It will travel 10,573 miles and has been labelled “the final frontier of long-haul travel” by Qantas.
Travel expert Simon Calder has revealed more details of the flight after visiting the home of Airbus, which is making the plane.
He said of the plane: “This is a specially modified Airbus A350 Twin Jet that is being built for Qantas so they can, in October 2027, fly you nonstop from London Heathrow 10, 573 miles to Sydney.
“It is going to take a long time, over 20 hours in the air. But, achieving something no airline has done before.”
Typically, passengers flying to Australia have a stopover in the Middle East, yet there is demand for a long-haul direct flight.
Simon said Qantas believes there is a “premium customer base” that is prepared to pay a 20% surcharge on the one-stop flight to get to Sydney directly.
He added: “On top of that, there’s lots of passengers that do not want the faff of changing planes in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai or Abu Dhabi along the way. They just want to get there, and Qantas believes they will be able to sell those seats.”
Simon explained on his Travel Expert podcast that he asked Qantas if the rise in fuel prices would affect the flight.
But the airline says it has seen increased demand for direct flights to Australia, so it doesn’t need to stop in the Middle East along the way.
Due to the flight’s length, Qantas is making changes to the plane to make it more comfortable for passengers.
There will be a reduced passenger count to 238, which Simon said is almost 100 fewer than British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have on identical flights.
The first record-breaking flight almost took a different route, as it was scheduled to depart from New York rather than London. New York will get its own direct flight, and the route will take slightly less time to fly.
