Why millions are tracking this American Airlines flight

Millions of people are watching in anticipation as one of the world’s most-tracked flights touches down in Brisbane this morning.

One of the world’s most tracked flights has just landed in Australia, and it’s causing a buzz. Taking off at in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas at 10pm local time and landing in Brisbane Airport mere hours ago, the inaugural Flight AA7 marks the longest distance flight by American Airlines, spanning more than 13,000kms.

The flight, which was roughly 16 hours long, was also the longest flight ever recorded heading to or from Brisbane Airport.

The inaugural Flight AA7 will make its historic takeoff from the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas. Picture: Supplied

Speaking to Weekend Today, Ian Petchenik, the director of communications at FlightRadar24, said the American Airlines flight was set to be one of the most-tracked flights in the world.

“We expect this to be one of the most tracked flights on Flightradar24, with people around the world tuning in to follow the aircraft’s progress from Dallas-Fort Worth to Brisbane, especially keen to watch the livestream of the landing,” Mr Petchenik said.

The new flight route is set to bring hundreds of thousands to Brisbane. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

The non-stop flight was first announced in February this year, and is set to operate daily during the seasonal service. It’s a move that hopes to bring in more than 141,000 people to Queensland over the span of three years, some 62,000 of which are international visitors. The only other airline that flies directly from the US to Brisbane is hosted by United Airlines, which departs from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Speaking in February, former Treasurer Cameron Dick said this was a “massive coup for Queensland”, that aims to open up the state “to lucrative North American market during the peak winter period”.

“This new American Airlines service also opens up so many new opportunities for Queensland businesses, both in Texas and across parts of the eastern and southern United States,” he said.

Originally published as Why millions are tracking this American Airlines flight