Qantas repatriation flight sets aviation record

The flight repatriated 107 Australians and set two Qantas records in the process: longest distance covered (15_020 km or 9_333 miles) and longest time in the air for a commercial flight (17 hours and 25 minutes). Before the pandemic_ Qantas' longest direct passenger flight connected London and Perth_ which came in at a "mere" 14_498 km (9_009 miles) and 16 hours and 45 minutes.

"Qantas has always stepped up to a challenge_ especially when it comes to long-haul travel_ and this flight is an excellent example of the capabilities and attention to detail of our flight planning team_" Captain Alex Passerini_ one of the four pilots who helmed the aircraft_ said in a statement.

He notes one more additional achievement: "There were some truly spectacular views as we tracked across Antarctica."

The flight_ QF14_ was on a Boeing 787-9 named "Great Barrier Reef."

The plane left Argentina at 12:44 pm local time on Tuesday_ October 5_ then flew south_ crossed Antarctica_ and arrived in Darwin at 6:39 pm local time on Wednesday_ October 6. The journey was entirely in daylight.

The flight from the capital of Argentina to the Northern Territory of Australia is not the only one to set a record because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In March 2021_ Air Tahiti Nui flew the longest ever scheduled passenger flight by distance -- transiting 9_765 miles across the world from Papeete_ in Tahiti_ French Polynesia_ to Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport.

Normally_ that route goes over the US and includes a stopover in Los Angeles. Because US aviation regulations require travelers transiting via the country to go through American customs_ the strict coronavirus protocols meant that it was too much hassle for the plane to stop.
Instead_ Air Tahiti Nui opted to have the flight push straight through_ clocking in at about 16 hours in the sky.

However_ aviation geeks who might want to take part in the flight themselves will likely be out of luck. A representative for Air Tahiti Nui told CNN that the direct route "was operated on an exceptional basis."

Before this week's achievement_ Qantas' special "Project Sunrise" flight traveled between London and Sydney_ a total of 11_060 miles and 19 hours and 19 minutes.

The flight wasn't listed as a typical fare_ though -- it was a special experiment designed to see how humans might physically cope with spending such a long amount of time in the sky.

A crew of "guinea pigs_" including scientists and pilots_ took part in the project. But since there were no paying passengers on board_ the Project Sunrise trip was ineligible for the "longest flight" record.