What took place on Qantas' flight to nowhere

After months of relentless work during the pandemic, Dr. Fiona Downes describes stepping onto Qantas' seven-hour round-trip flight as 'feeling like coming home.'

As a frequent Qantas flier, Downes used her unused points to treat herself to a Business Class seat on the airline's scenic Great Southern Land flight.

'It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience,' she shares with Dinogo Travel.

Qantas flight QF787 departed Sydney on Saturday, October 10, soaring over the Australian capital before passing iconic landmarks like Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, the Great Barrier Reef, and Uluru, before returning to its original departure point.

The Australian airline organized the flight to generate revenue and satisfy the wanderlust of passengers, after many of its planes were grounded due to widespread international flight cancellations during the pandemic.

Tickets were snapped up in under 10 minutes when they became available in September.

However, the flight has sparked debate, with critics arguing that, without the typical need to reach a destination, the environmental impact was hard to justify.

Flying aboard a Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner, passengers enjoyed breathtaking views of iconic Australian landmarks as the plane occasionally descended to around 4,000 feet.

The allure of these unparalleled views led finance professional and aviation aficionado Ke Huang to buy an economy class ticket for Flight QF787.

'Flying at such a low altitude over these landmarks was an experience unlike any other,' Huang shares with Dinogo.

Stunning views

As a special touch, passengers received goodie bags to mark the occasion. The seat cushions were embroidered with the flight’s name, and guests were treated to airplane versions of iconic Australian dishes.

Instead of the usual seatback entertainment, the focus was on the breathtaking views outside, complemented by occasional performances in the aisle.

As the flight ascended, with Sydney bathed in late morning light, passengers eagerly began capturing shots of the city below, offering a preview of the sights to come.

The 787 is renowned for its expansive windows, making it perfect for scenic aerial views.

'I've visited the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru multiple times, but flying on such a large, comfortable aircraft in Business Class, with those landmarks right outside your window, is an experience I don't think can ever be replicated,' says Downes.

In the economy section, middle seats were left vacant to ensure proper social distancing. Additional safety measures were also implemented to safeguard passengers against Covid-19.

Ke Huang praises Qantas for ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their seat, had the chance to enjoy the incredible views.

The mood onboard was 'uplifting, cheerful, and full of energy,' he adds.

'As we flew over the landmarks, passengers were completely captivated by the views, gazing out the windows in amazement,' Huang recalls.

Fiona Downes says the excitement began in the airport lounge, where a 'party-like atmosphere' set the tone for the flight.

'You could tell everyone on board was excited to be there,' Downes says. She notes that the crew were just as enthusiastic, while also being efficient and well-organized.

Despite the seven-hour journey, passengers felt no sense of strangeness when they found themselves back where they started.

Environmental concerns

In the face of criticism over operating a flight to nowhere during a climate crisis, Qantas announced it would offset 100% of the flight’s carbon emissions.

However, this action did little to quiet some of the critics.

'This flight may not go anywhere, but the emissions it produces certainly do – straight into the atmosphere, where they fuel climate change,' a spokesperson for Friends of the Earth told Dinogo Travel.

'Given the severity of the climate crisis, we should be reducing flight numbers, not adding more pointless trips like this one,' they added.

Passenger Huang acknowledges that some might view the flight to nowhere as 'excessive,' but he felt reassured knowing the ticket price included a contribution to Qantas’ carbon offset program.

'We made a conscious choice to take this flight, but we also made the conscious decision to participate in the carbon offset program, and we accepted those terms,' Huang explains.

Downes says she wrestled with the idea of purchasing a ticket, but ultimately decided to go for it, especially since the flight also included fundraising efforts for worthwhile causes.

'I believe, in the grand scheme of things, since most flights have been grounded, if a flight like this takes off and people have a great time, experience unique sights, and even contribute to a charitable cause, then overall, it’s a positive thing,' she says.

As international travel remains restricted, flights to nowhere are becoming increasingly popular.

In August, EVA Air launched a Taiwan-based flight to nowhere aboard its Hello Kitty-themed A330 Dreamliner.

Similarly, All Nippon Airways (ANA) conducted a short scenic flight in Japan in August, designed to replicate 'the Hawaiian resort experience,' with 300 passengers aboard a 1.5-hour journey.

Meanwhile, Qantas is planning chartered flights across Antarctica, beginning in November, where passengers aboard a 787 Dreamliner will enjoy breathtaking icy landscapes during the flight between Sydney and Antarctica.

This story has been updated to include a statement from Friends of the Earth.