QANTAS LONGEST FLIGHT: FIRST NON-STOP NEW YORK TO SYDNEY PASSENGER FLIGHT TOUCHES DOWN AFTER 19 HOURS IN THE AIR

Pilots captain Sean Golding (left) and first officer Jeremy Sutherland in the cockpit of the Boeing 787 liner.

The world’s longest flight has successfully touched down in Sydney after nearly 20 hours in the air.

Qantas Flight 7879 travelled 16,200km in 19 hours and 16 minutes from New York to the Australian city, landing early on Sunday morning.

Only 49 passengers and crew were on board, as tests were carried out to assess the effects of ultra long-haul flights on crew fatigue and passenger jet lag.

The airline monitored everything from pilot brain waves, melatonin levels and alertness, to exercise classes for passengers throughout the duration of the historic trip.

"Overall, we're really happy with how the flight went and it's great to have some of the data we need to help assess turning this into a regular service," said Captain Sean Golding, who led the four pilots aboard the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

To ensure the plane could comfortably go the distance, the flight had maximum fuel, a restricted baggage load and no cargo.

Continue Reading >>>