Qantas tests longest non-stop flight

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Boeing 787-9, New York to Sydney, Qantas

The crew celebrates after landing in Sydney.

Ready for departure from New York.

SYDNEY, Australia – Australia’s national carrier has successfully tested the longest non-stop commercial passenger flight.

The Boeing 787-9, carrying 49 passengers and crew, flew from New York to Sydney in 19 hours 16 minutes.

“This is a really significant first for aviation,” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce.

“Hopefully, it’s a preview of a regular service that will speed up how people travel from one side of the globe to the other.”

The airline said the flight was used to run a series of experiments to assess health and well-being onboard.

“Tests ranged from monitoring pilot brain waves, melatonin levels and alertness, through to exercise classes for passengers.”

Data from the experiments will be used help shape the crew rostering and customer service of Qantas’ ultra long haul flights in future, the airline added.

“We had a lot of interest from air traffic controllers as we crossed through different airspace because of the uniqueness of this flight,” said Capt. Sean Golding, who led the four pilots operating the service.

“We also had a special sign off and welcome home from the control towers in New York and Sydney, which you don’t get every day.”

Qantas has plans for two more research flights – London to Sydney in November, and New York to Sydney in December.

Currently, Singapore Airlines operates the longest commercial flight — from Singapore to New York, which takes 18 hours and 25 minutes.

Emirates announces world’s longest flight

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Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Boeing 777-200, Buisness, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dubai, Dubai Airport, Emirates, Longest Flight, News, Panama, Panama Canal, Panama City, Qantas, Sydney, UAE

Emirates is set to launch the world’s longest non-stop flight, from Dubai to Panama City, in February.

The flight from the Gulf emirate to the capital of Panama will last 17 hours and 35 minutes, the airline said Thursday.

Currently Australian carrier Qantas holds the record for the longest flight, one that links Sydney with Dallas in just under 17 hours.

The daily flight will be operated by a Boeing 777-200LR in a 3-class layout — eight in First, 42 in Business, and 216 in Economy, the company said.

“Panama City will be our first destination gateway in Central America, providing a convenient option for our passengers travelling from or through our global hub in Dubai and onward to destinations throughout Central America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America,” said Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum.

“We’re also pleased to be the only commercial airline to offer a daily, first-class service to travellers on what will be the world’s longest non-stop flight.”

Flight EK251 will depart Dubai at 08:05 and arrive in Panama City at 16:40 daily. The return flight, EK252, will leave Panama City at 22:10, arriving in Dubai at 22:55 the next day.

“It is gratifying to see how diplomatic efforts focused on generating development and prosperity for Panama materialize,” said Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, vice-president of Panama.

“New doors to the country will open with a direct connection to the Middle East — a strong and thriving region with great synergies to both Panama and Latin America.”

Emirates has 235 aircraft in its all wide-body fleet. The airline flies to 147 destinations in 81 countries.

Images are courtesy of Emirates and Tocumen International Airport.