London-Sydney nonstop flight moves one step closer as pilots approve deal

The 19-hour flight would cover 10,573 miles between Heathrow with Kingsford-Smith airport in Sydney

Qantas, like other airlines, has been forced to ground most of its fleet for the time being (Getty Images)

Pilots working for Qantas have approved the airline’s proposals for operating nonstop flights between London and Sydney.

The Australian carrier plans to use Airbus A350 jets to launch the world’s longest air link in the first half of 2023.

The 19-hour flight would cover 10,573 miles between Heathrow with Kingsford-Smith airport in Sydney – more than 1,000 miles longer than the world’s current longest commercial route, between Singapore and New York.

That link is temporarily grounded because of the coronavirus crisis.

The plan to link London and Sydney is part of a wider “Project Sunrise” initiative that could also see a UK-Melbourne link, as well as flights from New York, Paris and Frankfurt to Sydney.

But in February Qantas warned that it would hire new flight crew for the London-Sydney nonstop if existing pilots did not agree to its working arrangements for the link. These include concessions to cut costs.

At the time the union representing Qantas pilots warned the new-hire plan could “damage the airline for many years to come”.

Discussions have continued for more than six months, with particular focus on paying the second officers less than at present. These pilots support captains and first officers on longer flights.

The airline said cutting crew costs is “a major contributor to making the Sunrise business case stack up”.

Now, members of the Australian & International Pilots Association (AIPA) have agreed to the Qantas proposals – which also include a planned annual 3 per cent pay rise and extra overtime payments for the ultra-long-haul flights.

The airline says 85 per cent of pilots approved the deal.

But it may prove academic, as the coronavirus crisis undermines the global aviation industry.

Qantas has grounded its entire international fleet at least until the end of May.

While the Australian airline had promised a decision on Project Sunrise by the end of March, it will be deferred until the future of aviation is clearer.

Before the grounding, Qantas flew nonstop between London Heathrow and Perth, a distance of 9,009 miles.

One effect of the coronavirus crisis that may work in the airline's favour: the slump in the price of oil and therefore aviation fuel means that one of the biggest costs of the plan has dropped sharply.