Qantas Set to Directly Link Europe to Australia

Qantas is set to add to its list of aviation firsts, with the national carrier confirming it will operate non-stop flights from London to Perth using the 787-9 Dreamliner.

The 14,498-kilometre service will be the first regular passenger service to directly link Europe to Australia when it begins in March 2018.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the history-making flight would be a watershed for travel, tourism and trade.

“When Qantas created the Kangaroo Route between London and Australia in 1947, it took four days and nine stops. Now it will take just 17 hours from Perth non-stop”, Joyce said.

“This is a game-changing route flown by a game-changing aircraft. Travellers from Europe have never had a direct link down under before, so the opportunities this opens for them to explore Australia are huge.”

Passenger comfort on the 17-hour flight was a key consideration, so Qantas has included features in its Economy Class that other airlines reserve for Premium Economy.

The direct route is expected to appeal to European travellers who want a non-stop link to Australia and will see Australian travellers from across the country hub through Perth to London, boosting tourism in both directions.

The new flight will operate through Qantas’ existing domestic terminals (T3/4) in Perth, 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, helping to simplify the journey for thousands of people every year.

Seats on the London-Perth flights will go on sale in April 2017 for the first services in March 2018. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners used on the route will carry 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.