Qantas’ $2,200 non-stop 17-hour Perth to London direct flights nearly sold out

Qantas’ non-stop Perth to London flight has seen a record-breaking demand, with almost all the flights selling out in just five days with economy return tickets going for $2270.

Although the service does not launch until March 2018, but keen customers have already snapped up most of the tickets and travel agents said the demand has broken records, The West Australian reported.

‘I have never seen a flight like this generate this much demand,’ Amity Travel’s Luke Chittock said.

‘I knew it would be popular but this has exceeded my expectations’.

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the WA government are supporting the new route and more than 3000 new hotel rooms have opened to accommodate the new visitor numbers.

Air fares will start at $2270 for a return economy ticket, $4250 for premium economy and $9725 for business class.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said there had been global interest in the Perth-London flights since they were announced in December 2016.

‘We’re conscious that this is a long flight, but not much longer than our Sydney to Dallas service,’ he said.

‘It’s the kind of route that the Dreamliner [Qantas’ new Boeing 787 aircraft] was created for, because of its built-in features to reduce jetlag and improve the overall travel experience’.

Flights for Qantas’ Perth-London route will take to the air on 24 March 2018, leaving Western Australia at 6.50pm and land in Heathrow airport (pictured) at 05:10 the next day

The 14,498km flight will take approximately 17 hours and when it launches, it’s expected to be the third-longest passenger flight in the world.

The airline further announced that the long-haul flight to London will originate in Melbourne, replacing the current QF9 service to London via Dubai.

This means passengers from the Victoria capital will have a quick stop in Perth before flying onwards to the UK.

Fares from Perth to London on the current route which includes a stop over in Dubai are priced an estimated $1800, if you were to fly in June this year and return in July.

Mr Joyce said the route makes Western Australia a new tourism gateway for Australia.

‘We know from our research that there’s a lot of appetite to explore the West, not just from British and European visitors but also from Aussies on their way to London.

‘A lot of business travellers, particularly in the resources sector, will stop off in Perth on their way to the UK’.

Source: Qantas’ Perth to London direct flights nearly sold out | Daily Mail Online