Domestic Terminal 3 set for Perth-London Non-Stop Flights

12th Dec 2016

Australian airline Qantas and Perth International Airport have finally come to an agreement about the carrier's new non-stop flight to Europe. As of early 2018, the "Flying Kangaroo" will offer the longest non-stop passenger flight in the world between Perth, Australia and London, United Kingdom. That's a 17.5 hours long flight!

The two parties were at first unable to agree on the terminal the flight would take off. Qantas wanted this to be domestic Terminal 3, while Perth Airport pushed for international Terminal 1, mostly because it wanted to avoid the necessary upgrading costs for the domestic terminal.

In the end, Qantas prevailed and flights to London will depart from domestic Terminal 3. The terminal will be upgraded for this purpose with new quarantine and immigration services.

Speaking about the new route, Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer said it will be a "watershed for travel, tourism and trade.

He also said:

"When Qantas created the Kangaroo Route to London in 1947, it took four days and nine stops. Now it will take just 17 hours from Perth non-stop. This is a game-changing route flown by a game-changing aircraft, Qantas's new 787-9. Australians have never had a direct link to Europe before, so the opportunities this opens up are huge."

Joyce added that the new service will make travelling to Australia "a much more attractive proposition to millions of people".

Qantas Group CEO added:

"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. Our modeling shows that people from the East Coast as well as South Australia would fly domestically to Perth to connect to our non-stop London service."

David Flynn, of the Australian Business Traveller called "Perth-London the "Kangaroo Route of the 21st century" and that Perth has gone from "zero to hero" as a Qantas port.

The editor at ABT said about the new route:

"It should be considered as the shape of things to come. Qantas expects the majority of Perth-London flyers will come from Australia's east coast, jetting across from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on domestic flights before hopping on to the Dreamliner at Perth."

He continued:

"Only a few years ago Qantas dropped all international flights from Perth ? eventually reinstating a single Boeing 737 run to Singapore. Now the WA capital is being transformed into the airline's Aussie hub for non-stop flights to Europe."