The first ever direct commercial flight between London and Australia has successfully touched down at Heathrow Airport.
In 2015, we reported that Australian airline Qantas was planning a new direct route between London and Perth, an 8,700-mile route that would be the longest in the world. It has now become a reality, as Flight QF9 landed safely in London in the early hours of Sunday March 25, carrying over 200 passengers and 16 crew.
The new route is made possible by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, and only takes around 19 hours to complete.
“This is a truly historic flight that opens up a new era of travel,” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, who was a passenger on the flight. “For the first time, Australia and Europe have a direct air link.”
The flight will run daily, beginning in Melbourne before flying up to Perth for the non-stop leg to the UK.