In terms of sheer miles, it’s the longest flight you can book from Big D. It’s Qantas’ new 8,586-mile Dallas/Fort Worth flight to Sydney.
Long-range, four-engined Boeing 747-400s make the trip four times each week, with an en-route stop on the Australian Gold Coast – in Brisbane to be specific. That’s where they refuel. Flights operate Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. They’re timed to offer good connections with American Airlines, Qantas’ oneworld alliance partner.
Dallas/Fort Worth flights to Sydney depart at 10 p.m. and arrive at Kingsford Smith International Airport at 8:05 a.m. two calendar days later. Remember, you cross the International Date Line en route to Australia. Grab a window seat and see something amazing: the Southern Cross. Have a second glass of wine, dream, and settle in for an extraordinary journey.
Those connections are important. Even though DFW is the third-busiest airport in the world, it would have a hard time supporting direct service to Australia all on its own. American’s ability to flow flights to and from its Dallas/Fort Worth megahub boosts the number of flyers boarding the Sydney-bound service. That’s the essence of hubs, what makes them work for airlines and travelers alike.
Through its code share partnership with American, the Australian flag carrier will connect DFW to 54 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Among those cities are Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans, New York; Washington, D.C., Toronto, Vancouver, Cancun and Mexico City.
Qantas doesn’t take expansion lightly. This is the first time the airline with the iconic bounding kangaroo on the tail has forged a major new international route since 2008.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: Justin Griffiths)
