Transportation

The first non-stop flight between Europe and Australia arrives in London

The first non-stop flight between Europe and Australia is ready for takeoff
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The first non-stop flight between Europe and Australia is ready for takeoff

On Saturday, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Qantas left Perth, Australia and flew non-stop to London Heathrow.

The flight was the first commercial passenger jet to connect the two countries directly and the 9,010 miles took just over 17 hours to complete.

The flight carried over 200 passengers across business, premium economy, and economy cabins. That number had been trimmed back to allow for more fuel.

While it signals a new era of efficient engines and lightweight composite structures, it has not won the title of the world's longest flight.

CNBC takes a look at the current routes guaranteed to weary any hardened traveler.

Dallas/Fort Worth — Sydney

Shortest total time: 16 hours, 50 minutes

Length: 8,578 miles

Yury Prokopenko | Getty Images

Operated by Qantas, this flight was the first non-stop when the route started using an Airbus A380 in 2014. The return route from Sydney, however, was always non-stop, which began as far back as 2011.

Houston — Sydney

Shortest total time: 17 hours, 30 minutes

Length: 8,596 miles

Houston, Texas
Tim Leviston | EyeEm | Getty Images

United Airlines began UA 101 in January this year, using Boeing's 787-9. Crossing the International Date Line across the Pacific Ocean, travelers arrive two days after departure.

Los Angeles — Singapore

Shortest total time: 17 hours, 00 minutes

Length: 8,770 miles

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by United Airlines takes off from Los Angeles International Airport.
Getty Images

United first operated this service in October 2017. The flight holds the distance record for any current flight flying to or from the United States. That should change when Qantas launches nonstop flights between Melbourne and San Francisco in September.

Auckland — Dubai

Shortest total time: 17 hours, 05 minutes

Length: 8,824 miles

An Airbus A380 in Emirates livery.
Airbus

Emirates EK 449 is a non-stop Airbus A380 route. After departing New Zealand it is almost four hours before you even reach the east coast of Australia. Anyone who stays awake should be able to see the south coast of India before the descent into the Middle East.

Perth — London Heathrow

Shortest total time: 17 hours, 20 minutes

Length: 9,010 miles

The newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for Sydney, Australia-based Qantas features artwork honoring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Source: Qantas

The new kid on the block. From Saturday the Boeing 787-9, operated under Qantas' QF9 code, became only one of two current routes to fly direct more than 9,000 miles. The Dreamliner set off for its non-stop run to London at 6.50 p.m. AWST, reaching Heathrow at 5.10 a.m. London time the following day.

Auckland — Doha

Shortest total time: 17 hours, 40 minutes

Length: 9,032 miles

A Qatar Airways Boeing 777 In New York.
Leslie Josephs | CNBC

The longest current flight you can take flies you from New Zealand to the capital of Qatar. A Boeing 777-200LR performs the haul, which was first completed in February 2017.

It may not have long at the top though. Singapore Airlines is soon to take delivery of the ultra-long range Airbus A350-900ULR. With it, it wants to relaunch the 9,537 mile Singapore to New York route. Airbus estimates that will take up to 19 hours.