Qantas has just confirmed a precise timetable for launching its non-stop flight between Perth and London.
The non-stop Perth-London flight, launched in March 2018, made Qantas a landmark in aviation history, becoming the first non-stop air link between Australia and Europe. However, at the beginning of March, the Australian airline had to suspend this technical feat due to repeated airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf. As a result, flight QF9 was renamed QF209 and now transits through Singapore, adding approximately three to four hours to the journey. The total flight time now exceeds 20 hours, compared to the usual 17 hours for the direct version. The return flight continues to operate non-stop as QF10.
Qantas details the resumption of its direct Perth-London flight
The Australian carrier recently clarified, through its official channels, the exact duration of this temporary suspension:
– From October 25, 2026 to January 31, 2027: the Perth-London flight will continue to operate via Singapore.
– From February 1, 2027: the service will resume as a fully non-stop flight.
– The return journey from London to Perth, however, has always been direct and will remain so throughout this period.
It should be noted that the Sydney-Paris route was also diverted via Singapore last May, a reorganization that is expected to continue until January 31st, according to the latest information provided by the airline. Thus, only the Perth-Rome route has retained its direct flight status throughout the crisis.
Regarding project sunrise
This tense situation should not overshadow a much more ambitious project: Qantas plans to launch its first non-stop flights between Sydney and London in October 2027, as part of its Project Sunrise program. Unlike the Perth-London route, this new service will depart from the Australian east coast and will last up to 22 hours, operated by Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft specially modified for ultra-long-haul flights.