Marathon 24-hour Qantas flight tracked by 3.6 million internet users

A Qantas flight from Perth to London, spanning 9,000 miles, captured the attention of millions online, with over 3.6 million internet users tracking its journey. The specially modified Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner completed the ultra-long-haul flight, which lasted more than 17 hours.

This flight is a key component of Qantas's "Project Sunrise," an initiative exploring the feasibility of regular direct flights between Australia's east coast and Europe. The airline is testing the operational and passenger experience aspects of such extended journeys. The data gathered from these flights will inform decisions about future routes and aircraft configurations.

Qantas aims to eventually offer regular commercial services on routes like Sydney to London and Melbourne to London, cutting down travel time significantly compared to current options with layovers. The success of these trial flights is crucial for the airline's ambition to pioneer ultra-long-haul travel.