Fly nonstop from London to Sydney: Qantas plans 22-hour direct flight

Key Points:

• Qantas Airways will launch the world's longest nonstop flight next year, operating up to 22 hours between London and Sydney using specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR jets.
• The 17,015-kilometer (10,573-mile) route will surpass the current longest direct flight by Singapore Airlines, which flies 15,349 kilometers between Singapore and New York City in under 19 hours.
• Qantas' customized A350-1000ULR will carry only 238 passengers, fewer than the standard 480, to enhance comfort and accommodate extra fuel tanks, with 140 economy seats offering more legroom and access to a Wellbeing Zone.
• Tickets for the direct flights, going on sale in February, will be priced higher than connecting flights but will save passengers up to four hours of travel time; experts suggest business class is preferable for such long durations, while economy travelers might find two shorter flights more manageable.
• Following the London-Sydney route, Qantas plans to launch another ultralong-haul direct flight between Sydney and New York, covering 16,013 kilometers (9,950 miles).