American Airlines Launches Its Longest Non-Stop Flight

Passengers can clock in 16 hours of flying time from Dallas to Brisbane on Australia’s east coast.

An American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner lands at the Miami International Airport on Dec. 10, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

American Airlines plans to fly directly from Dallas to Brisbane with a newly designed Boeing 787-9 from October.

The first-ever service between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Australia’s third-largest city, will be the longest nonstop flight in the airline’s network

The flight time will be nearly 16 hours from Dallas to Brisbane, and 14 hours and 20 minutes in the opposite direction.

The service will run in Australia’s warmer months, providing Americans with a chance to escape the cold to relax on Queensland beaches between Oct. 28, 2024 and late March 2025.

American Airlines senior vice president of network and schedule planning, Brian Znotins, noted the route would involve partnering with Australian flag carrier Qantas.

“American is thrilled to grow our international network to give customers more ways to escape the cold next winter,” Mr. Znotins said.

“Together with Qantas, customers can enjoy more ways to explore new destinations across one of the most comprehensive networks connecting the United States and the South Pacific.”

Brisbane Airport celebrated the news with a post to X on Feb. 2, saying, “Real American Airline planes coming soon.”

In response, American Airlines said, “We can’t wait to arrive in Brisbane soon.”

Qantas also offers a flight between Sydney and Dallas-Fort Worth using the Boeing 787.9 Dreamliner plane. The route used to be serviced by an Airbus A380.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, flights between Sydney and Dallas halted for two years before returning on Feb. 16, 2022.

United Recently Launches Brisbane to LA Flight

Competitor United Airlines is currently offering direct flights between Brisbane and Los Angeles, along with San Francisco and Brisbane.

The airline launched the Brisbane to Los Angeles flights, which operates three times per week with Boeing 787-9s, just before Christmas.

United’s regional manager for Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti, Tim Wallis, said the service “builds on United Airlines commitment to Australia.”

“At United, we’re very proud to expand our services between Brisbane and the U.S. with our first non-stop service to LA. Australians are in the top five sources for international visitors to Los Angeles just as Americans are for Queensland, and we’re happy to offer travellers, and our trade partners, even more choice,” Mr. Wallis said.

United maintained direct flights between Australia and the United States during the pandemic, operating a daily flight between Sydney and San Francisco.

Delta also operates direct flights between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sydney, while  Hawaiian Airlines flies direct between Sydney and Honolulu.

New Flagship Suites for Brisbane to Dallas Flight

Brisbane and Dallas travellers will also have the opportunity to experience American’s new 787-9 flagship suites which will feature on all Boeing 787-9 deliveries from 2024.

The suite seats provide a sliding door and the option to lie-flat, or convert to a lounge position and dine with fellow travellers.

American Airlines Airbus A321XLR planes will also feature the flagship suite seats, while American  Boeing 777-300ER fleets will be refreshed with new interiors.

Customer experience vice president, Julie Rath, said the arrival of new long-haul aircraft will provide a “truly private premium experience on our long-haul fleet.”