Airplane: No more layovers between France and Australia thanks to Qantas

The Australian airline Qantas has opened a 16.5-hour direct flight route from Paris to Perth. A revolution?

No more stress of a layover in Dubai, Hong Kong, or Singapore. Since July 12, 2024, the Australian airline Qantas has launched a direct connection between Paris and Perth, the largest city on the country’s west coast. A flight of 14,264 km takes 16 hours and 30 minutes outbound… but 17 hours and 20 minutes on the return due to headwinds and the rotation of the Earth.

The aircraft chosen and capable – not much choice in the market – for such a non-stop flight is the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in aviation history. Its main characteristic lies in its very light weight (everything is relative) and the use of only two engines. Its fuselage is made of 50% composite materials, 20% aluminum, and 15% titanium, metals known for their strength and lightness.

Relatively expensive tickets

It does consume a lot of fuel for a flight like this, so tickets for this Paris-Perth route, operating at a rhythm of 4 per week until the end of September 2024 and the Paris Paralympics, then 3 per week thereafter, are relatively expensive. In Economy class, expect to pay at least 1700 euros, while flights with layovers drop to around 1300 euros. Conversely, a layover that serves to lower the price extends the journey by at least 3 hours. It allows passengers to stretch their legs and reduces the risk of air embolism, as immobility at altitude poses a danger to the human body.

This question has already been raised at the time of the opening of the longest air route in history, between New York (United States) and Singapore: 18 hours and 50 minutes of flight! One can only hope that the in-flight movies are good or that wifi is provided…

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