Qantas has announced plans for a seven-hour, border-free scenic flight across Australia on the 10th of October flying on one of its Dreamliner 787-9’s – The Great Southern Land.
In response to strong demand from nagging frequent flyers who say they are missing the experience of flying, Qantas has announced plans to operate a special scenic joy flight above the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales in October.
The fun flight will also serve to promote some of Australia’s key attractions we are likely to visit once state borders do open, given international travel is expected to be off the agenda for a while and signs of domestic travel demand remain high.
The ‘Great Southern Land’ scenic flight will take place on Saturday 10 October on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an aircraft usually reserved for international flying and the famed direct Perth – London route.
With the largest windows of any commercial aircraft, it’s perfect for scenic spotting from the comfort of your own seat – if you manage to snag a window seta that is.
Using similar configuration as its scenic flights over Antarctica, Qantas will take up to 150 eager travellers on a seven-hour flight that will feature low-level flybys of some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks including Uluru, Kata Tjuta, the Whitsundays, Gold Coast, Byron Bay and Sydney Harbour.
Singapore Airlines are reportedly also considering three hour flights ‘to nowhere’ out of Changi Airport on their A350 aircraft in response to demand for flights to literally anywhere right now.
Qantas’ border-free ‘Great Southern Land’ flight will depart from Sydney only and head up the New South Wales coast, cross the Queensland border to fly over the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast before continuing north to fly over the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef.
It will then track across the country to Uluru and Kata Tjuta to showcase the iconic red centre. The experience will finish with a low-level circuit of Sydney Harbour before landing back at Sydney.
“While we may not be able to take you overseas right now, we can certainly provide inspiration for future trips to some of Australia’s most beautiful destinations. We could be on the cusp of a domestic tourism boom given international borders are likely to be restricted for some time.
Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO
The Details
- Business Class: 6 tickets available at $3,787 each.
Plus earn 10,000 Qantas Points plus 160 Status Credits. - Premium Economy: 24 tickets available at $1,787 each.
Earn 5,000 Qantas Points plus 80 Status Credits. - Economy: 104 tickets available at $787 each.
Earn 2,400 Qantas Points plus 40 Status Credits. - The Great Southern Land scenic flight will be carbon offset and operate on a cost-neutral basis.
- Qantas Fly Well procedures will apply pre-departure and inflight.
Tickets include
- Pre-flight breakfast in the Sydney Domestic Qantas Business Lounge from 8 am before a 10.30 am flight departure.
- Exclusive opportunity to participate in a live auction of original and limited Qantas 747 memorabilia as well as 787 Flight Simulator sessions.
- Lunch menu designed by Neil Perry.
- Surprise celebrity host MC and entertainment.
- Commemorative flight certificate.
- Qantas Business pyjamas and an amenity kit.
- Gift bag.
Tickets go on sale at noon on 17 September and are available until sold out. Here’s hoping they put on more of these as demand is no doubt likely to be very high.
Find out more: www.qantas.com.au