From 10 days to nonstop: How London to Australia flights have changed

Rob Hodgetts, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 5:29 AM EDT, Mon March 26, 2018
<strong>Flying Down Under: </strong>Once upon a time, in a more romantic if ultimately slower and less efficient era, high-rolling passengers could make the marathon journey from London to Perth, Australia in a luxury flying boat.
Flying Down Under: Once upon a time, in a more romantic if ultimately slower and less efficient era, high-rolling passengers could make the marathon journey from London to Perth, Australia in a luxury flying boat.
Courtesy Qantas - colorized by Benoit Vienne
<strong>Promenade deck: </strong>The trip was an adventure in itself, taking 10 days and 37 stops, leaving plenty of time for in-flight strolling on the promenade deck and pointing at dirty marks on the window.
Promenade deck: The trip was an adventure in itself, taking 10 days and 37 stops, leaving plenty of time for in-flight strolling on the promenade deck and pointing at dirty marks on the window.
Courtesy Qantas - colorized by Benoit Vienne
<strong>Time to type: </strong>Some used the time to work, much like on long-haul flights today but with a typewriter instead of a tablet.
Time to type: Some used the time to work, much like on long-haul flights today but with a typewriter instead of a tablet.
Qantas -- colorized by Benoit Vienne
<strong>In-flight entertainment: </strong>Others kept their golf game sharp.
In-flight entertainment: Others kept their golf game sharp.
Courtesy Qantas - colorized by Benoit Vienne
<strong>Broken journey: </strong>The early journeys were in two parts -- Southampton, England, to Darwin, Australia, in a Short C Class flying boat, before transferring to local carrier MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA) for the trip to Perth in a puddle-jumping DH-84.
Broken journey: The early journeys were in two parts -- Southampton, England, to Darwin, Australia, in a Short C Class flying boat, before transferring to local carrier MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA) for the trip to Perth in a puddle-jumping DH-84.
Courtesy West Australian Newspapers - colorized by Benoit Vienne.
<strong>Air con: </strong>The larger "state-of-the-art" DH-86 was a later improvement on the Darwin to Perth leg. The twisty air con nozzle didn't work then, either.
Air con: The larger "state-of-the-art" DH-86 was a later improvement on the Darwin to Perth leg. The twisty air con nozzle didn't work then, either.
Courtesy Qantas - colorized by Benoit Vienne
<strong>Super Constellation: </strong>The flying boats were superseded by converted Lancaster bombers and then pressurized four-engine Lockheed Constellations. In 1958, Qantas was the first airline to launch a round-the-world service with the Super Constellation.
Super Constellation: The flying boats were superseded by converted Lancaster bombers and then pressurized four-engine Lockheed Constellations. In 1958, Qantas was the first airline to launch a round-the-world service with the Super Constellation.
Courtesy Qantas -- colorized by Benoît Vienne