Twenty hours in the air: Which cities will be connected by the world's largest passenger flight?

Qantas ordered a fleet of specially designed Airbus.

JXF3ZIKATVK3VA7YC4JI6EHABE 1024x683 1

When launched in 1947, the Sydney-London flight lasted 58 hours and included seven stops.

Even today the trip is known as a "kangaroo route" since to get there one has to jump from airport to airport. In the best case, an intermediate stop is required.

But that will change from 2025, when Qantas launches direct flights of about 20 hours, which will be the largest passenger flights in the world.

The Australian airline announced on Monday that it has ordered 12 specially designed Airbus A350-100 aircraft with extra seating space. They will carry up to 238 passengers, about 100 less than usual for this model, divided into four seats: first, business, premium economy and economy.

"The A350 and Project Shine will bring any city a flight away from Australia," said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

It is the "final solution to the tyranny of distance," he told the BBC.

HBX4O5DS6BJ2ROWIAX2QZQJIAY 600x450 1

Interior of the A350 that arrived in Sydney for test flights (Reuters)

The fact that the seat density will be lower than normal, tickets will probably cost more than normal, but will save passengers several extra hours of flight, according to Reuters.

Qantas said in a statement that the resumption of domestic flights and signs of improvement in international travel after the worst phase of the pandemic had allowed the company to invest in its future. The return to profitability is expected in the financial year starting in July.

Qantas already offers 17-hour direct flights between London and Perth in Western Australia, as well as between London and Darwin in northern Australia.

On the new route, passengers will have access to a "well-being area" in the center of the plane with space for stretching and other exercises to relieve long-term immobility.

in.gr