The World’s Longest Flight QF7879 Arrives from New York to Sydney

The world’s longest flight- Qantas Flight QF7879 created aviation history when it touched down Sydney from New York on Sunday at 7:43 am. Australia’s Qantas Flight QF7879 took 19 hours and 16 minutes precisely from New York to Sydney; the longest flight journey. It took off from New York’s JFK airport at 9:27 pm on Friday night. 

It is one of the three “ultra long haul” journeys planned by the airline this year. The flight covered 16,200 kms (10,200 miles). The CEO of Qantas- Alan Joyce called this feat “a really historical” moment for not only the airlines but for the aviation world. 

Only 49 people which includes 6 pilots, 6 cabin crew members, a chef, six regular flyers, few reporters and the CEO of Qantas- Alan Joyce were boarded on the flight. 

The test flight was carried out to establish whether passengers can endure both the “physical and mental” effects of the long journey. The passengers who boarded the flight in New York were told to set their watches to Sydney time, were kept awake for six hours with the light on and were served spicy soup and fish for lunch. 

When they passed over Las Vegas, passengers were shifted from business class to the empty seats in economy class in a rendition to La Macarena. This was done to get blood pumping around their bodies. 

Crew members and travellers were medically prepared days in advance to take on this long journey. 

Professor Marie Carroll a researcher from Sydney University who is conducting the experiment said, “It's all an experiment to see if airlines can adjust their schedule of food, beverages, exercise and lighting to be in sync with the destination time.”

Qantas airlines say that these test flights are only one aspect of work to ensure that these flights are being operated safely before they start operating regular flights on marathon routes from America and Britain to Australia.