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(CNN) – Regular nonstop flights between the east coast of Australia and London or New York could soon become a reality.
Qantas 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 2011 Qantas, medical experts, health and wellbeing impacts on passengers and crew.
Bjorn Fehrm, an aeronautical and economic analyst at Leeham News, explains to CNN the appeal of the ultra-long-haul flight, as opposed to a more typical two-part journey stopping in Dubai or Singapore.
There are no layovers, no extra days, no stress transfer, he points out. "You can plan it so much, and you could arrive at it," says Fehrm. "It's going to be businesspeople that fly this way."
If the 19-hour flight becomes a reality, it's likely to cost travelers more. "It's cheaper for the airline to do two separate flights," Fehrm says. "But some people are prepared to pay the extra price of that ticket."
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, will be flying from the Boeing's factory in Seattle to London or New York.
After the test flights – two from New York, one from London – the new planes will enter commercial service. Qantas employees will be available for purchase.
Researchers from Sydney University's Charles Perkins Center, Monash University and the Alertness Safety and Productivity Cooperative Research Center – a scientific program backed by the Australian government – will review the impact of the long flight on those on board.
Singapore Airlines has new and improved economy seats to prepare for its new 19-hour flight route between Singapore and New York.
Passengers in the hands of the eye of the eye, and experts from the Charles Perkins Center will study their health, wellbeing and body-clock, and will be affected by a set of variables that include lighting, food and drink, movement, sleep patterns and inflight entertainment.
Monash University scientists will focus on the flight crew, recording their melatonin levels before, during and after the flights, and studying electroencephalogram devices worn by the pilots.
Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO, said in the press release: "Ultra-long haul flying presents a lot of common sense questions about the comfort and wellbeing of passengers and crew.
"For customers, the key will be minimizing jet lag and creating an environment where they are looking for a restful, enjoyable flight.For crew, it is about using scientific research to determine the best opportunities to promote alertness when they are on duty and maximize rest during their time on these flights, "Joyce continued.
For some, the prospect of a 19-hour non-stop flight might sound unbearable. "It was very much doubtful in the prior generations of this kind of thing that you'd want to do and that could be economically beneficial for airlines," CNN's Fehrm says.
If it says it, it says, pointing to the existing 17-hour flights between Singapore and New York operated by Singapore Airlines. "In the world, we have 20,000 aircraft flying every day, and there are nine aircraft doing this kind of flight," he explains.
"It's an outlier for a very select group of people – a prestige project," he says. "But it definitely makes sense, and then it would be worth the cost."
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