Non-stop Qantas cuts flight time

Qantas has stripped more than three hours off the flight time between New York and Sydney.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, right, with Captain Sean Golding in Sydney. Picture: AFP

Qantas has stripped more than three hours off the flight time between New York and Sydney in a record-breaking feat that could reinvent long-haul travel.

Flight QF7879 landed in Sydney at 7.42 AEDT on Sunday, 19-hours and 16-minutes after leaving JFK Airport in New York.

It was the first non-stop commercial flight on the route, which normally takes more than 22 hours with a stop in Los Angeles along the way.

Four pilots crewed the new Boeing 787-9 carrying 49 people.

Researchers spent the flight monitoring the brain activity of pilots and cabin crew, with the data to be used for devising the best work-rest schedules for such services in the future.

Passengers also took part in scientific experiments designed to promote health and wellbeing throughout the journey, and minimise jet lag afterwards.

That involved setting the clocks to Sydney time on takeoff, and keeping people awake for the first part of the trip with bright lights and spicy, caffeinated food.

Seven hours into the flight, a creamy, carbohydrate-laden meal was served and the lights dimmed to prepare passengers for sleep.

Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said feedback from those on board would determine the best way forward for “Project Sunrise” flights between Australia’s east coast and New York and London.

“We’re going to be asking people ‘Were the meals too close together, were the meals not right, did they like the fact it was all fluids and no alcohol’,” he said.

“It’s going to be people deciding if they want the healthy way of doing it that the scientists recommended, or do they want to drink as much as they want in a flight, and eat as much and stay up late.”

He said what was most apparent from the flight, was the time saved.

“Our one-stop New York to Sydney service took off three hours before our direct flight but arrived a few minutes ahead of it, meaning we saved a significant amount of total travel time by not having to stop,” Mr Joyce said.