Australia’s New Long-Haul Service to Europe Could Be Just the Beginning
Photo Credit: Qantas is bullish on demand for its new Boeing 787-9 nonstop from Perth to London. But the route does not start until March, and since business travelers book late, it'll be some time until the airline has a good idea of premium demand. Qantas
Skift Take
A new direct route will change traveler habits on Australia’s west coast and may deliver more market share to Qantas. But, more importantly, it looks set to herald more ultra-long-distance connections between Australia and Europe.
Editor's Note: Gateway is a Skift series featuring first-hand, original stories from our correspondents embedded in cities around the world. The logo reflects where the correspondent is based and not necessarily the article's focus. Read about the series here.
Four months from the first departure, there is already strong support for Qantas’ nonstop flights between Perth and London — Australia’s first-ever direct link to Europe.
The service begins in March 2018, and already there are indications of good passenger loads in both directions. In fact, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce hinted demand has exceeded the airline’s expectations, although he wouldn’t release booking figures.
Kelly Weinbauer, Western Australia product leader for Australia’s largest travel group, Flight Centre, noted that “there has been plenty of interest in the
