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(CNN) – Regular non-stop flights between the east coast of Australia and London or New York may soon become a reality.
Qantas had previously announced its goal of operating direct flights between London, New York and three Australian cities – Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne – by 2023.
The test flights scheduled for October, November and December bring the airline closer to this target and will allow Qantas, alongside medical experts, to test the impacts on the health and well-being of pbadengers and pbadengers. of the crew.
Bjorn Fehrm, an aviation and economic badyst at Leeham News, tells CNN the appeal of the very long-haul flight, as opposed to a more typical two-legged trip to Dubai or Singapore.
There is no stopover, no extra travel to customs and no transfer stress, he notes. "You can plan this so you can fly over the night, and you could get to have a productive day the next day as well," Fehrm said. "It will be businessmen flying that way."
If the 19-hour flight becomes a reality, it will probably cost more to travelers. "It's cheaper for the airline to make two separate flights," says Fehrm. "But some people are willing to pay the extra price for this ticket."
Before testing begins later this year, three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, recently off the production line, will be shipped from the Boeing plant in Seattle to London or New York.
After the test flights – two from New York and one from London – the new aircraft will enter commercial service. Most people on board the test flights will be Qantas employees, so seats will not be available for sale.
Researchers from the Charles Perkins Center at the University of Sydney, Monash University and the Cooperative Research Center Alertness Safety and Productivity, a science program supported by the Australian Government, will examine the impact of the long flight on pbadengers.
Singapore Airlines has redesigned its premium economy seats to prepare its new 19-hour flight between Singapore and New York.
Pbadengers in the main cabin will carry monitoring devices and experts from the Charles Perkins Center will study how their "health, well-being and biological clock" are influenced by a set of variables including lighting, food and nutrition. drinks, movements, sleep patterns and flight conditions. entertainment.
Scientists from Monash University will focus on the flight crew, recording their melatonin levels before, during and after flights, and will study data on brainwaves from electroencephalograms worn by the pilots.
Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Group, said in a press release: "Very long haul flights pose a lot of common sense questions about the comfort and well-being of pbadengers and crew. valuable data to answer it. "
"For customers, the key will be to minimize jet lag and create an environment conducive to a relaxing and enjoyable flight." For crew members, it's about using scientific research to determine the best opportunities to promote alertness when they are in use and maximize performance. " to rest during their downtime on these flights, "continued Joyce.
For some, the prospect of a non-stop flight of 19 hours may seem unbearable. "In previous generations of aircraft, it was highly doubtful that this is something you would want to do and that it could be economically advantageous for the airlines," Fehrm told CNN.
If the theft were to occur, it is unlikely that the aviation sector will change significantly, he said, highlighting the existing flights of 17 hours between Singapore and New York, insured by Singapore Airlines. "Around the world, 20,000 devices fly every day and nine planes do this type of flight," he says.
"This is a special case for a very selective group of people – a prestigious project," he says. "But that definitely makes sense in certain circumstances, and then it would be worth the cost."
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