Qantas tests 20-hour non-stop flights to see if passengers can bear it

[tacobell fan]

Qantas Airways Ltd. will run marathon ghost flights from New York and London to Sydney carrying just a few staff to see how the human body holds up before commercial services start.

Qantas said Thursday it will simulate the world’s longest direct flights with Boeing Co. Dreamliners as soon as October. The payload of 40 passengers and crew, most of them employees, will undergo a host of medical checks and assessments.

The Australian airline wants to start direct flights connecting Sydney to New York and London as soon as 2022. Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce describes the services as aviation’s final frontier.

The services, which take about 20 hours, aren’t yet a sure thing. Qantas still hasn’t decided on a Boeing or Airbus SE plane that can fly the route fully laden and without a break. And it’s not clear how passengers will tolerate living in the cabin for the best part of a day and night.

Project Sunrise

Qantas is targeting direct flights to New York and London from Sydney by 2022

 

“The things we learn on these flights will be invaluable,” Joyce said on a call Thursday.

Joyce has previously said he plans to choose either Boeing’s 777-8X or Airbus’s ultra-long-range A350-900ULR and -1000ULR for the flights. Competition for the contract gives Qantas more leverage over price.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television on Thursday, Joyce said the delay to Boeing’s 777X program hasn’t excluded the U.S. manufacturer from the deal. He said Boeing had offered Qantas a “transitional” solution to accommodate for any delay. He didn’t elaborate.

“This is still a very competitive race,” he said.

[RunRaajaRun123]

Nannu adagamanu nenu poya maa dokku air india lo 18 hours flight 

[JollyBoy]

32 minutes ago, RunRaajaRun123 said:

Nannu adagamanu nenu poya maa dokku air india lo 18 hours flight 

vuu cheppu. maku aina telustadi

[chittimallu_14]

inka 777X raane ledu, so it must be A350

[MRI]

35 minutes ago, RunRaajaRun123 said:

Nannu adagamanu nenu poya maa dokku air india lo 18 hours flight 

18hrs nonstop.. adi Air India lo.. no chance.. oka vela nijam ayithey.. "arey.. intlo cheppochavara?" haha

[MRI]

I travel often and I wouldn't mind for convenience.. my only problem is kaalakrutyalu.. poddiney vellali.. so, flight oka 7/8am ki pedithey 24hrs lopu land avutey mikkili santoshista.. lol

[chittimallu_14]

1 minute ago, MRI said:

I travel often and I wouldn't mind for convenience.. my only problem is kaalakrutyalu.. poddiney vellali.. so, flight oka 7/8am ki pedithey 24hrs lopu land avutey mikkili santoshista.. lol

flight lo kooda bathrooms untai... try them sometime 

[Hector8]

4 minutes ago, MRI said:

18hrs nonstop.. adi Air India lo.. no chance.. oka vela nijam ayithey.. "arey.. intlo cheppochavara?" haha

AI di 15-16hrs SF - delhi unnatu undi 

[MRI]

3 minutes ago, chittimallu_14 said:

flight lo kooda bathrooms untai... try them sometime 

joke esinav ley.. aa gabbu.. I use airport lounges.. aa lavatory lu gabbu chestaru.. and dantlo nenu chakkaga pattanu kooda bro.. kallu irukuga.. inka sokoon ga em potha?

[MRI]

4 minutes ago, Hector8 said:

AI di 15-16hrs SF - delhi unnatu undi 

i heard about this.. but don't know.. stopped flying air india.. nonstop aa bro?

[Hector8]

1 minute ago, MRI said:

i heard about this.. but don't know.. stopped flying air india.. nonstop aa bro?

yes..... nenu eppudu ekkaledu ....frn valla parents vacharu monna

[boeing747]

747 can do it eezy peezy

[chittimallu_14]

3 minutes ago, boeing747 said:

747 can do it eezy peezy

No chance... not even 777ER might do that... only A350 ULR okkate capable so far and coming soon, the 777X. Maybe 787 kooda capable, im not sure.

They already tested the world's longest route with A350 with a full premium economy layout between singapore and NYC and that was 18 hours. 

[RunRaajaRun123]

1 hour ago, Hector8 said:

AI di 15-16hrs SF - delhi unnatu undi 

Konni rojulu airspace close chesaadu appudu 18 hrs daaka vellindhi