Qantas Airways will ditch the traditional in-flight service routine for this weekend’s marathon nonstop trip from New York to Sydney. At almost 20 hours, the unprecedented journey is set to be the world’s longest flight. It’s a key test run as Qantas prepares to start direct commercial services connecting Sydney with New York and London as soon as 2022. As part of research aimed at reducing jet lag, passengers on board will effectively switch to Sydney time as soon as they leave New York late Friday. Rather than following the standard practice of serving food and dimming the lights after take-off, Qantas plans to keep everyone awake for 6 hours. They’ll be helped by food containing hot peppers and spices. <br/>
oneworld
Travellers suffering jet lag are often their own worst enemies, avoiding methods proven to remedy the condition while exacerbating the punishment on body and mind by drinking too much booze during their flights. That's one conclusion from research Qantas and the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre have conducted on the ailment, carried out as the airline considers how to look after passengers if it launches ultra-long haul flights from New York or London to Australia's east coast. Researchers surveyed 500 passengers on international flight longer than 9 hours and found that while most people made some effort to reduce the effects of jet lag, they were avoiding the most effective strategies. <br/>
Qatar Airways CE Akbar al-Baker said his airline would consider lifting its 10% stake in LATAM Airlines Group if the opportunity came up - comments which come after Delta Air Lines agreed last month to buy 20% of the Chilean carrier. But al-Baker also noted that LATAM's free float was limited. Currently around 48%, according to Refinitiv data, it could fall to as low as 28% depending on the take up of Delta's tender offer for shares. Qatar Airways has historically had a contentious relationship with major US carriers, which have accused Gulf airlines of receiving unfair govt subsidies, distorting competition and costing Americans jobs. Delta's US$1.9b deal with LATAM ended the Chilean airline's long-time ties with American Airlines. <br/>