Qantas to get up close to the super blood moon

Buoyed by the success of mystery trips, Qantas has scheduled a one-off flight to view the next super moon and lunar eclipse.

A Qantas scenic flight to Uluru proved a big hit last October. Now the airline is going one better staging a super blood moon flight. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Qantas has scheduled a one-off flight to take passengers above the clouds and 12km closer to the lunar eclipse and super moon that will occur on May 26.

The flight path for the three-hour trip on a Boeing 787-9 is being plotted in partnership with the CSIRO to ensure the best possible vantage point for the phenomenon, dubbed a “super blood moon”.

Not only is the moon at its fullest and brightest on May 26 because it is closer to Earth, it will also appear blood red due to a total lunar eclipse, which occurs when a full moon enters Earth’s shadow in space. It’s the only total lunar eclipse this year.

Qantas 787 fleet technical manager Alex Passerini said the flight followed the success of other “special flights” staged by the airline in the last 12 months, including scenic flights over Australia and the recent mystery flights.

“We’re lucky to have a spare aeroplane available for this one which I’m sure will be equally successful if not more so,” said Captain Passerini.

“That moon is 240,000 miles away but we’ll be about 12km closer to it at about 40,000 feet.

“We’ll have terrific views above the atmosphere. It’ll be nice and clear above the clouds, without any smoke or bits of pollution that might affect our view.”

Chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said the 787 had the largest windows of any passenger aircraft, making it ideal for “moon-gazing”.

A super blood moon seen over California in 2019. Picture: Getty Images.

Just 140 seats will be sold on the 236-seat aeroplane to ensure everyone gets a good view.

“We think this flight has great appeal for anyone with a passion for astronomy, science, space photography, aviation or just keen to do something a little ‘out of this world’,” Ms Tully said.

Departing and landing in Sydney, the flight will take off about 7.30pm on May 26, and head out over the Pacific Ocean, ready for the eclipse between 9.11pm and 9.25pm.

Passengers can expect cosmic cocktails and supermoon cakes on board, along with a range of insights into supermoons and space from CSIRO astronomer Dr Vanessa Moss.

Captain Passerini said away from the light pollution of Sydney, passengers are guaranteed the best seat in the house for the phenomenon.

“I think it continues that history that Australia’s had with the moon, with the moon landings,” he said.

“I was born when the Apollo 11 landings occurred so I always look up at the moon and think about all those things that humanity has done so it will be extra special for me.”
Tickets for the three-hour flight from Sydney go on sale at midday on Wednesday, with economy seats costing $499, premium economy $899 and business $1499.

Recent mystery flights sold out within 15 minutes of going on sale, with the supermoon flight expected to prove just as popular.

All carbon emissions produced by the flight will be offset, and passengers will be required to wear face masks when not eating or drinking.