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Australia-UK: First non-stop flight arrives in London from Perth Australia-UK: First non-stop flight arrives in London from Perth
(about 3 hours later)
The first scheduled non-stop flight between Australia and the UK has touched down in London's Heathrow Airport.The first scheduled non-stop flight between Australia and the UK has touched down in London's Heathrow Airport.
Qantas Flight QF9 completed its 14,498km (9,009-mile) journey from Perth in just over 17 hours.Qantas Flight QF9 completed its 14,498km (9,009-mile) journey from Perth in just over 17 hours.
The airline is using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is twice as fuel-efficient as the Boeing 747.The airline is using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is twice as fuel-efficient as the Boeing 747.
It is part of ambitious plans by Qantas to add ultra long-haul flights to its schedules.It is part of ambitious plans by Qantas to add ultra long-haul flights to its schedules.
Chief Executive Alan Joyce has called the new Perth-London service a "game-changing route". The Australian flag carrier's Chief Executive, Alan Joyce, has called the new Perth-London service a "game-changing route".
Speaking at an event ahead of the inaugural flight, he said the earliest Qantas flights between Australia and the UK - known as the "kangaroo route" - had taken four days and involved seven stops.Speaking at an event ahead of the inaugural flight, he said the earliest Qantas flights between Australia and the UK - known as the "kangaroo route" - had taken four days and involved seven stops.
Western Australia's state government is also hoping to see an increase in tourist numbers as a result of the new direct route.Western Australia's state government is also hoping to see an increase in tourist numbers as a result of the new direct route.
The historic flight, carrying more than 200 passengers and 16 crew, departed from Perth at 18:49 local time on Saturday.The historic flight, carrying more than 200 passengers and 16 crew, departed from Perth at 18:49 local time on Saturday.
To minimise the discomfort of such a long flight, the plane is equipped with improved air quality and lower cabin noise. To minimise the discomfort of such a long flight, the plane is equipped with features that provide improved air quality and lower cabin noise.
Some of the passengers have agreed to share data on their sleeping and activity patterns with researchers from the University of Sydney. Some of the passengers agreed to share data on their sleeping and activity patterns with researchers from the University of Sydney.
They are wearing special monitors and devices that also record mental state, eating patterns and hydration, Sydney's Daily Telegraph reports. They wore special monitors and devices that also recorded data about their mental state, eating patterns and hydration levels.
Some aviation fanatics in the UK were up early tracking the plane's flight path and anticipating its landing.
"We have a touchdown!!" wrote Twitter user Andrew Leong, who said it was "a milestone in the aviation industry".
Another user, Leigh Mason, said the achievement was "amazing", adding: "Hope to fly this one day."
The Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, tweeted on arrival in London: "A new era of travel and opportunities for Western Australia's economy has officially begun."
Those arriving in London in the early hours following their historic flight shared images of the welcome they received at Heathrow Airport.
The new Perth-London flight is around three hours faster than other routes that involve stops in the Middle East to change planes or refuel.
The flight is the world's second-longest after Qatar Airways' route from Doha to Auckland, which spans 14,529km, according to the International Air Transport Association.The flight is the world's second-longest after Qatar Airways' route from Doha to Auckland, which spans 14,529km, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Other carriers, including Emirates and United Airlines, have also flown non-stop journeys greater than 14,000km.Other carriers, including Emirates and United Airlines, have also flown non-stop journeys greater than 14,000km.
In 2017, United Airlines launched a route from Los Angeles to Singapore, offering the longest-distance non-stop flight available from the US.
But Singapore Airlines has provided the world's longest flight, travelling more than 15,300km from Singapore to New York on a direct route that was discontinued in 2013.