Qantas Cautiously Halts Perth-London Nonstop

DALLAS — Qantas (QF) has suspended its nonstop Perth (PER) to London (LHR) flight as a “precaution” due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The 17-and-a-half-hour flight will now refuel in Singapore, allowing it to carry a whole load of passengers on a route that avoids contested airspace. This is the second time this year that the airline has been forced to redirect flights due to unrest in the Middle East.

The return service—London to Perth—will continue to fly nonstop on a readjusted path due to prevailing winds. QF joins Lufthansa (LH) in redirecting flights from the area.

Qantas uses a Boeing 787-9 flies the nonstop service, the longest route operated by QF and the fourth longest route globally, covering 9,010 miles. The aircraft on this route has a premium configuration, which allows the Dreamliner to fly farther because it is lighter.

Airlines with Cancelled Israel Service

The Lufthansa Group, which incorporates Austrian Airlines (OS), Brussels (SN) Airlines, Eurowings (EW), and Swiss (LX), on Monday canceled flights to Tel Aviv (TLV), Beirut (BEY) and Tehran (THR) until August 12. 

Delta Air Lines (DL) has extended the suspension of its TLV route until the end of the month, and United Airlines (UA) has suspended the route until further notice. Ryanair (FR) and Easyjet (U2) are the latest low-cost carriers to extend the cancellation of flights to and from TLV. U2 has suspended its services until March 29, 2025.  

Airlines that continue to fly to TLV include Blue Bird Airways (BZ), Air France (AF) and British Airways (BA).