Qantas Airways aims to be ready to launch extra-long haul nonstop flights connecting Sydney with London by 2022.
The Sydney- London route would take more than 20 hours, but Qantas still doesn’t have a plane in mind tcapable of operating the marathon route.
It requested proposals from both Boeing and Airbus to come up with a suitable configuration that would be light enough to operate the trip.
That would mean fewer passengers and probably more legroom.
Still, CEO Alan Joyce believes it is viable, says the nonstop flight is the ‘last frontier’ in aviation.
Qantas’ 17-hour Perth-London flights prove there is ‘amazing demand’ for direct services to Europe.
Due to the likely fewer passengers, Qantas has been researching the possibility of adding bars, an exercise area or even a children’s crèche on the adapted planes.
The ultra long haul research programme has been dubbed the ‘Sunrise Project.’
Senior Boeing and Airbus executives were in Sydney before Christmas but no firm decision regarding suitable aircraft has been made yet.
