This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
On October 18, 2019, Qantas is set to operate the world's longest non-stop flight from New York to Sydney, a 19-hour journey that will test the limits of long-haul aviation.
The flight, which will be the first direct commercial flight from New York to Sydney, will carry up to 40 passengers and crew, mostly Qantas employees, on a Boeing 787-9 plane.
The plane will depart from New York on Friday and arrive in Sydney on Sunday morning, covering a distance of approximately 16,000 kilometres without refuelling.
Scientists from two Australian universities will be on board to monitor passengers' sleep patterns, melatonin levels, and food consumption, while pilots will wear devices that track their brain waves and alertness.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has called the flight the 'final frontier in aviation', and the airline is considering launching commercial services on the marathon routes if the economics stack up.
However, Qantas pilots have raised concerns about the impact of ultra-long-range flying on safety standards, with the Australian and International Pilots Association calling for a 'scientific long-term study' into the impacts on crew.
