Qantas this weekend launched its Perth to London direct flights, which has historic significance in that it’s the first direct air route between Australia and Europe. The history-making QF9, carrying more than 200 passengers and 16 crew, pushed back just before 7pm on Saturday evening and arrived in London yesterday. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce says the flight “opens up a new era of travel… the original Kangaroo Route from Australia to London was named for the seven stops it made over four days back in 1947; now we can do it in a single leap”. Here are 8 more great reasons why we love it. (Images supplied by Qantas)
#1
New Qantas transit lounge in Perth
Let’s not jump ahead of the kangaroo, so we’ll begin with home base. Qantas customers will benefit from stretching out in a studio room, jetlag-reducing lights and an outdoor terrace in the airline’s new transit lounge at Perth Airport as part of the airline’s new approach for improving health and comfort. The Perth International Transit Lounge has been designed by Australian Industrial designer David Caon and SUMU design, in consultation with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre using an evidence-based approach to wellness. The lounge’s ‘light therapy’ in the shower suites help adjust the body clock, a wellbeing studio offers stretching classes and there is a refresh area providing hydrating face products. Customers can dine in an open-air terrace with a BBQ.
Did you know?
In 1947 a return flight from Sydney to London cost £525 when the average wage was £7. Today, the average Australian weekly wage is $1600 and a return fare from Perth to London can cost less than $1300.
#2
Dreamy comfort on the Qantas Dreamliner
There’s no escaping the fact a 17-hour route from Perth to London is still a lengthy period of time to be in the air. But this is hands-down the most comfortable aircraft that Qantas has ever put in the sky, according to early reports. “Boeing designed the Dreamliner with features to reduce jetlag, turbulence and noise. We’ve taken that a step further with our cabin design, giving passengers more space in every class as well as bigger entertainment screens and more personal storage,” says chief Joyce.
#3
Hello Heathrow! End to end charm
Yes, the new lounge in Perth is a winner, but Qantas has ensured it works both ways with a new spacious Qantas London Lounge at Heathrow Airport – a dazzler in which to relax and unwind before your return journey home! Qantas has worked with leaders in design, food and service to create a lounge with a seriously modern touch with seating for more than 230 customers to relax, work and dine before their flight. It’s split over two levels with views of the airfield, features a stunning marble cocktail bar beneath a brass chandelier on the upper level serving cocktails designed by the Qantas Rockpool Mixologists, as well as Australian and European wine and beer. Other hits with business travellers include Wi-Fi facilities, flexible work spaces and workstations, a ‘Quench’ hydration station, and six shower suites with Aurora Spa amenities.
#4
Longest Dreamliner flight, better fuel efficiency
At 14,498km, QF9 is the third longest commercial flight globally in operation, but is the world’s longest Dreamliner flight. QF9 will carry about 92 tonnes or 110,000 litres of fuel with the Dreamliner burning approximately 20 per cent less than traditional aircraft its size. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is produced as a result of fuel consumption and the reduced fuel consumption means fewer CO2 emissions.
#5
Boom time for Western Australia
The daily QF9 begins in Melbourne, flying to Perth before then flying non-stop to London. Qantas has adjusted the timing of some domestic services into Perth so that passengers from Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane can join the flight to London. This effectively means the direct route is going to have big appeal to all those in the east, including the West Australians, so a tourism kickalong is well on truly on the way. As Mr Joyce says: “We expect many travellers from Europe will start their time in Australia with a visit to Perth before going on to see other parts of the country.”
“Working with clinical sleep specialists, nutritionists and metabolic scientists, we’ve designed new menu options using delicious ingredients that have added benefits of hydration, aiding sleep and reducing jetlag.”
#6
Food to increase hydration, reduce jetlag
Healthy poke bowls and a herbal tea designed especially for Qantas are among the new dining choices on Qantas’ new 787 Dreamliner Perth to London menus to increase hydration and help reduce jet lag. The airline’s Creative Director of Food, Beverage & Service and masterchef Neil Perry said the new menus combined research from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre with inhouse experience of the Qantas and Rockpool teams to create dishes that encourage sleep at optimal times during the flight. “Working with clinical sleep specialists, nutritionists and metabolic scientists, we’ve designed new menu options using delicious ingredients that have added benefits of hydration, aiding sleep and reducing jetlag,” says Mr Perry.
#7
Taking off the pressure
There have been significant improvements in the design of the Dreamliner to also help give jet lag the boot. Plastics in the airframe basically means the cabin can stay pressurised at around the 1800m mark regardless of how high the Dreamliner peaks, which is different to other aircraft which are pressurised at 2438m. The theory goes that jet lag symptoms begin once the flight moves above 1900m. There’s also improved technology to reduce turbulence, there’s less cabin noise and improved air quality meaning the quality of your snooze should improve, too. Hydration is still the key, however, so don’t forget to keep the intake of water high.
“It’s a beautiful, bold artwork and so we hope it catches people’s eye and sparks a conversation about our country’s dynamic Indigenous culture.”
#8
A Qantas Dreamliner called Emily
The inaugural flight on the weekend featured the amazing livery honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians on its latest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The new livery features the work of the late Northern Territory artist and senior Anmatyerre woman, Emily Kame Kngwarreye. It is based on her 1991 painting, Yam Dreaming, and has been adapted for the aircraft by leading Indigenous owned design studio Balarinji. The artwork depicts the culturally significant yam plant, an important symbol in Emily’s Dreaming stories and a staple food source in her home region of Utopia, 230km north-east of Alice Springs. The aircraft itself is named Emily Kame Kngwarreye in tribute to the artist. As Mr Joyce aptly sums up the Dreamliner’s appearance: “It’s a beautiful, bold artwork and so we hope it catches people’s eye and sparks a conversation about our country’s dynamic Indigenous culture.”
