Qantas selects Airbus over Boeing for world's longest flights

Qantas Airways picked Airbus over Boeing as the preferred supplier for jets capable of the world's longest commercial flights from Sydney to London, dealing the US planemaker its latest setback this year. The choice of up to 12 A350-1000 planes fitted with an extra fuel tank for flights of up to 21 hours cements Airbus as the leader in ultra-long haul flying globally at a time when Boeing is battling delays on its rival 777X program and a broader corporate crisis with its 737 MAX. The Qantas flights would begin in the first half of 2023. A final decision on an order is expected in March, the airline said Friday. Qantas CE Alan Joyce said the airline "had a lot of confidence" in the market for non-stop services from Sydney to London and to New York based on 2 years of flying non-stop from Perth to London. <br/>