(CNN) – With global travel reopening in 2022, there will soon be another addition to the list of “the world’s longest flights” — a direct service between Melbourne, Australia and Qantas-operated Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) .
The Australian airline, nicknamed “the flying kangaroo,” announced the new route would begin on December 2, 2022 and would be served by Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Customers flying onward to other cities in North America can transfer with Qantas partner American Airlines, which has a key hub at DFW.
Although Qantas offers several long-haul flights to the United States, this is the first time in history that a commercial airline has operated a non-stop service between Dallas and Melbourne.
This announcement highlights the news that, as CNN’s Richard Quest might tell you, Dallas is currently having what might be called “a moment.” And it’s also great news for Melbourne, which has suffered six suspensions over a nine-month period during the pandemic.
“No city in the world has been hit harder during Covid than Melbourne, but no city is recovering as quickly,” said Stephanie Tully, Qantas Group chief customer officer, in a press statement.
She added, “We’re seeing really strong demand from Melburnians who want to travel abroad for a vacation or business trip after two years at home.”
Australia slowly began reopening its borders to fully vaccinated international travelers in February.
The MEL-DFW direct route hits around the 17-hour mark, which puts it in the list of the world’s longest flights. Tickets for the first flight are available now.
Last week Air New Zealand added a new route to the ultra-long-haul club and announced plans to introduce direct flights between Auckland and New York City – a first for the airline Kiwi. Flights from JFK to Auckland will arrive at 17 hours and 35 minutes.
Currently, the world’s longest passenger flight operates between Singapore and JFK with Singapore Airlines. It covers 9,534 miles and spends about 18 hours in the air.
Australia’s national airline, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020, has made no secret of its desire to push the boundaries of long-haul travel.
“Project Sunrise,” Qantas’ plan to operate non-stop flights between Sydney and London, was derailed by the pandemic, but the airline is still hoping to revive it.
During the pandemic, like many airlines around the world, Qantas got creative to stay afloat and keep staff busy.
Qantas ‘flights to nowhere’ – flying over major landmarks like Uluru or at events like the Super Moon – gave Australians new ways to travel within the country.