In the Big Apple once more is Qantas.
When Qantas Flight 3 arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Wednesday after an 8,829-mile, 15-hour, and 36-minute flight from Auckland, New Zealand, the Australian flag carrier staged a dramatic return to the Big Apple.
The flight, which is being run by a Boeing 787-9, is currently the fifth-longest in the world (behind a route that competitor Air New Zealand started last October).
About Qantas, its brand-new "fifth freedom" service, which runs from Sydney to New York via Auckland, marks the airline's return to the nation's capital for the first time since the epidemic. It was difficult to ignore this significance before the airline's first flight.
Before the meal, a Qantas marketing initiative received extensive press coverage in Sydney and around Australia. The New York debut, though, was all but hard to miss in Auckland.
The entire Qantas check-in line was decorated with special posters to commemorate the event. The launch logo could be seen even on digital counter screens. The live saxophonist playing "New York, New York" in front of a temporary soft pretzel booth that gave passengers a free snack with a New York City theme was harder to ignore.
Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, held a press conference in front of the check-in desks, adding to the excitement. As news and morning shows from Australia and New Zealand broadcast their coverage, Joyce responded to inquiries.
Taylor Swift's "Welcome to New York" set the mood even at Qantas' Auckland frequent-flier lounge before the trip, where a buffet of New York delicacies including pizza slices, pastrami Reuben sandwiches, and hot dogs with sauerkraut.
The New York-themed party atmosphere moved to the gate when it came time for boarding. The saxophone had reemerged in the boarding area, which was also decorated with inauguration branding, and the passengers cheered him. On the plane, swag bags including a commemorative ball cap, coffee mug, and bag tag were waiting for each passenger.
Once on board, Joyce, who had been a passenger on the inaugural, welcomed everyone over the PA system. He emphasized the importance of the flight and the apparent attention that Qantas' debut was creating.
He continued, referring to the well-known flight-tracking website, "I'm told, it is currently the most followed flight on FlightRadar24." So the rest of the world is keeping an eye on you.
Then, as the pandemic recedes, he outlined how Qantas was making a full-court effort to develop its international route map since getting back to New York had now become a priority for the airline.
Speaking from the front of the aircraft, he added, "We're rebuilding some of the most crucial destinations on our network, and New York is one of the most crucial (ones)." For us, it's a crucial city. Most of our passengers wish to travel there. We are delighted to be able to fly back to the Big Apple because we are aware of how interesting this city is.
Project Sunrise flights are still being pushed by Qantas.
In a broader sense, Wednesday's trip is the most recent phase of Qantas' grand "Project Sunrise" strategy. The airline would make the longest nonstop flights in history to connect Sydney to New York and London, as well as later other Australian cities.
But that won't be possible until Qantas receives its brand-new Airbus A350-1000 ultra-long-haul jets, which can complete the 9,000+ mile journeys with regular loads of passengers and luggage. The delivery of those aircraft to the carrier is anticipated to start in 2025, and the new ultra-long flights are anticipated to start soon after.
By extending the flight range of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners already in its fleet, Qantas is moving closer to its ultimate Project Sunrise objectives in the interim. The airline gained notoriety in 2018 when it began offering nonstop flights from Perth, Australia's west coast, to London. As the first regularly scheduled nonstop flight between Australia and Europe, the 9,010-mile route was recorded in history.
For the airline to run nonstop flights with a typical number of passengers and cargo, the distance between New York and London and the eastern Australian capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane remains too great.
But for the time being, Qantas' most recent attempt from Auckland, coupled with a leg to Sydney, gives Qantas a new connection to New York as it gets ready for longer flights in the future.
Before the first flight from Auckland, Joyce reiterated one of his standard talking points: "I think inaugurals like this... are furthering Qantas' mission, which is to minimize the tyranny of distance."
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