42 AIRLINER WORLD JUNE 2018
HOPHOPHOPHOP
Just
ONE
D
uring the last weekend in
March, Qantas achieved
what many pioneers have
regarded as the ‘Holy Grail’
of long-haul commercial
services; a direct flight between
Australia and the UK.
The great distances between the
Australian continent and most other
nations have led to Qantas playing a
key role in developing long-haul travel
ever since its formation in the late
1920s. It has certainly pushed the
boundaries of what was possible in
the past, so it seemed only right that
Qantas would be the one to accom-
plish the first direct passenger
service linking its home and
Europe; albeit some 71 years after
the Australian flag-carrier’s famous
Kangaroo route was launched.
Many readers may remember
that Qantas staged a direct London
Heathrow to Sydney flight for
publicity, courtesy of a Boeing 747-400
delivery flight, in August 1989. It
covered the 10,500-mile distance non-
stop in 20 hours. However, it carried
just a few VIP guests and one kilo of
freight; a cricket ball that was a gift to
the Australian Prime Minister of the
day from the victorious Australian
cricket team that was touring England
at the time!
Commercial
Back in 1947, flying between the two
countries meant Sydney to London.
Taking four days and seven stops it
wasn’t a trip for the faint-hearted. At
that time, unless you were travelling
on government business – which,
incidentally, accounted for many of
the bookings – only the wealthy could
afford a ticket. Back then, a return
flight from Sydney to London cost
£525 (Australian pounds) when the
average wage was only £7. Today,
the average UK weekly wage is
approximately £520 and a return fare
from London to Perth nonstop can
cost less than £800.
Over the years, longer range aircraft
have of course made the Kangaroo
route’s ‘hops’ ever greater.
Consequently, airports that were once
important tech-stops along the route
have been by-passed as each next
Australian continent and most other
nations have led to Qantas playing a
The great distances between the
Australian continent and most other
nations have led to Qantas playing a nations have led to Qantas playing a
key role in developing long-haul travel
nations have led to Qantas playing a
key role in developing long-haul travel
ever since its formation in the late ever since its formation in the late
1920s. It has certainly pushed the
boundaries of what was possible in
1920s. It has certainly pushed the
boundaries of what was possible in
the past, so it seemed only right that
Qantas would be the one to accom-
plish the first direct passenger
Qantas would be the one to accom-
plish the first direct passenger
service linking its home and
Europe; albeit some 71 years after
stop in 20 hours. However, it carried
delivery flight, in August 1989. It
covered the 10,500-mile distance non-
stop in 20 hours. However, it carried
just a few VIP guests and one kilo of just a few VIP guests and one kilo of
freight; a cricket ball that was a gift to
the Australian Prime Minister of the
day from the victorious Australian
cricket team that was touring England
freight; a cricket ball that was a gift to
the Australian Prime Minister of the
cricket team that was touring England
Commercial
Back in 1947, flying between the two
countries meant Sydney to London.
Taking four days and seven stops it
wasn’t a trip for the faint-hearted. At
Back in 1947, flying between the two
countries meant Sydney to London.
Over the years, longer range aircraft
have of course made the Kangaroo
route’s ‘hops’ ever greater.
Consequently, airports that were once Consequently, airports that were once
important tech-stops along the route important tech-stops along the route
have been by-passed as each next
