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Highlights
- Qantas successfully performed their longest-ever commercial flight of over 17 hours.
- QF14 flew entirely in the daylight experiencing average headwinds of up to 35 kilometers per hour.
- This was Qantas’s longest ever non-stop flight where the passengers could buy a ticket.
Qantas (ASX:QAN) has successfully performed their longest-ever commercial flight this week. This was a record-breaking repatriation flight, operated on behalf of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.
On 5 October, QF14, operated by Boeing 787-9 VH-ZNH, took off from Buenos Aires at 15:44 UTC, tracking south of Argentina, before crossing Australian coast in remote South Australia. Carrying 107 passengers, QF14, finally landed in Darwin, after 17 hours and 26 minutes on 6 October.
In flight, Qantas Airbus A380 approaching landing. Source: © Jirsak | Megapixl.com
The flight flew entirely in the daylight experiencing average headwinds of up to 35 kilometers per hour, while flying over Antarctica, with temperature as low as 75 Celsius.
This was Qantas’s longest ever non-stop flight for which the passengers could buy a ticket, earlier, the Project Sunrise test flights from New York and London to Sydney were longer but purchasing a seat onboard was not possible.
Planning the QF14
Last month, a team of flight planning analysts conducted extensive route planning, based on weather and wind conditions across Antarctica and the Pacific Ocean.
Chief Technical Pilot – Alex Passerini, along with three other pilots worked on rotating roster, where Passerini crewed the flight. Prior to departure, Captain Passerini said that while Boeing 787-9 was perfect for the complex flight, but little modification was required.
Small changes in wind could have a significant impact on the route, although they had little flexibility over the South Pacific, as there was no unnecessary traffic, he said.
This flight was the come back of a chartered flight that carried the Argentinian rugby team home from 2021 Rugby Championship, held in Brisbane. Alike all government assisted repatriation flights, seats were only made available for Australian Government registered passengers, where inflight service was minimal.
While the QF14 made the record for Qantas’s longest commercial flight, the airline previously operated significantly longer flights for over 20 hours duration. Qantas also operated two Project Sunrise research flights, using Boeing 787 from both London and New York to Sydney in 2019, flying over 19 hours each, with reduced passengers.
About Qantas Airways (ASX:QAN)
Qantas Airways is an Australian airliner, that provides international and domestic air transportation services across Australia and other countries.
