Flying from Australia to London in 1935 took 12 1/2 days. Passing a major aviation milestone on Saturday, Qantas Airways Ltd. will do it in 17 hours. The 14,498-km flight from Perth marks the first direct passenger service between the continents. It puts Europe’s financial centre one night’s sleep from the capital of Australia’s mineral wealth and the operations of hundreds of resources companies. For Qantas, the Perth connection is a high-profile test for a planned ultra long-haul network that the airline hopes will span the world by 2022. To succeed, the route must defy the boom-and-bust commodities cycle that has preyed on Western Australia. And Qantas needs business travellers to pay up for the shorter, one-hop flight to London rather than make a stop in Asia or the Middle East. “They’re targeting the business community that wants a seamless journey,” said Rico Merkert, professor of transport and supply-chain management at the University of Sydney. “It will be a game changer for the resources sector.”<br/>
oneworld
Hong Kong’s largest airline is to revamp its airport lounges and in-flight food, as it seeks to compete in an increasingly crowded market. Cathay Pacific Airways’ main customer service focus in 2018 would be improving catering, managers said, raising an aspect of its offering that many customers see as a weakness. In the meantime the city’s flag carrier, and Asia’s largest international carrier, on Thursday opened its newest premium lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, with food front and centre. The airline said changes included a bigger variety of food on board and flexible eating times in business class. It plans a similar revamp of the food range and quality in economy class. Vivian Lo Wing-yee, GM for customer experience and design, said the changes were in response to customer feedback. “They wanted better food, more choice, signature dishes and more flexibility in service and hospitality,” she said. Cathay chief executive Rupert Hogg signalled food would be a major area for development as he unveiled the company’s 2017 results last week. Trials were conducted late last year of a restaurant-style dine-on-demand concept. Cathay’s new lounge, named The Deck, is an 823 square metre facility with space for 186 passengers. <br/>