The world’s longest non-stop flight leaves from London and takes passengers to the most remote city on Earth a full 17 hours away – but it’s not for the faint-hearted
The longest flight from London takes you to the world’s most remote city and lasts nearly 17 hours.
Currently, the longest non-stop flight departing from the UK whisks passengers from London Heathrow to Perth in Australia.
This journey, provided by Australian airline Qantas, covers a whopping 14,500km (9,000 miles) and takes an eye-watering 16 hours and 45 minutes. So, tourists leaving Heathrow at 1pm won’t touch down in Perth until after 1pm the next day.
Passengers on this journey board a Qantas Dreamliner, a version of the Boeing 787 with 236 seats. It has 166 economy seats, 28 premium economy spots, and 42 spaces in business class, catering to all types of travellers.
While economy-class passengers don’t get many unexpected luxuries, standard features include a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, a personal USB phone charging port and an adjustable headrest. Although the journey may seem incredibly long, flights requiring a stopover usually take over 20 hours, reports the Expr ess.
The duration of the journey can vary significantly depending on the airline and whether a stopover is made. Compared to Qantas’ direct flights, journeys that include a break along the way are typically around £300 cheaper per person for a round trip.
Perth, known as the most isolated city in the world, is the capital of Western Australia and is home to nearly two million residents. Tourists visiting the city often enjoy a trip to Swan River, which meanders through several of Perth’s most popular suburbs, making it a perfect spot for fishing or a leisurely walk.
Visitors can also pick up their souvenirs at the historic Fremantle Market or encounter local wildlife on Penguin Island.
The city is known for having a vibrant music scene, with Tame Impala and Pendulum hailing from Perth. Perth Concert Hall, Perth Arena, Challenge Stadium, the Metropolis Concert Club, Fremantle Arts Centre, Belvoir Amphitheatre and the Red Hill Auditorium are just some of the spots where this scene has taken root.
Sports fans visiting the city would be wise to time their visit to coincide with a Fremantle Dockers AFL game as they dramatically leap and pummel their way to victory against rivals primarily from the east of the country.
Since Perth is the only big city in a circuit of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,240miles), it is often called the “most isolated big city in the world”. The nearest metropolis is Adelaide, which is almost 2,100 kilometres away.
Unlike cities in the east of Australia such as Sydney which has a fairly high rainfall, the Mediterranean climate in Western Australia causes hot, dry summers and mild winters.
There are other contenders for the title of world’s most remote city, including Hanga Roa, on Easter Island, which is thousands of miles from any significant settlement, but only has a few thousand residents, putting its city status in doubt a little. Honolulu, Hawaii has a much larger population at 340,000 and is 2,300 miles from San Francisco, the nearest major city.
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