Qantas achieves world’s longest non-stop commercial passenger flight, flying from New York to Sydney

Qantas achieves what no airline has, flying non-stop from New York to Sydney.

Captain Sean Golding (left seat) and First Officer Jeremy Sutherland are fitted with brain activity monitoring equipment ahead of the historic Qantas test flight from New York to Sydney Picture: Supplied

A historic Qantas flight from New York to Sydney has touched down safely after 19-hours and 15-minutes in the air, achieving what no other airline has ever done.

Flight QF7879 was slightly late in taking off from JFK Airport, getting away at 12.27 AEDT yesterday.

The Boeing 787-9 named Kookaburra, and registered VH-ZNI, landed in Sydney at 7.42am, following a short Air Traffic Control delay.

The world’s longest non-stop commercial passenger flight was hailed an “incredible step forward in aviation” by Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert and welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham.

Conducted primarily as a “research flight”, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce hopes to add non-stop services between Australia’s east coast and cities like London and New York by 2023.

Researchers and scientists were among the 50 people on board Kookaburra, monitoring the brain activity and melatonin levels of four pilots and six cabin crew, as well as six volunteer passengers.

MORE NEWS:

Sarah Hanson-Young slapped down over climate ‘emergency’

Electricians’ wage push ‘will cause job losses’

The flight was conducted on Sydney time, meaning passengers were encouraged to stay awake for the first six hours after leaving New York, with the cabin brightly lit and spicy food served.

Creamy, carbohydrate-heavy food was dished up later in the flight and the lights dimmed to simulate night-time in the hope of delivering passengers to their destination well-rested.

The volunteer passengers were not allowed to drink alcohol to aid with their flight recovery and minimise jet lag.

Mr McCormack said the flight was a great opportunity to test the economics of ultra-long-haul flights that could allow Australians and visitors to travel more quickly, safely and efficiently.

“I also welcome the involvement of Australian universities and researchers in the trials,” said the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Transport.

“Partnerships between industry and Australian academic institutions have the potential to provide broad benefits to all travellers.”

Minister Birmingham said the non-stop flights halfway around the world would “further enhance the appeal of Australia as a destination of choice”.

A second trial flight will be staged next month between London and Sydney, and a third in December.

Data gathered from the flights will be shared with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.