SYDNEY, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Australia's iconic airline Qantas has unveiled its latest passenger jet named Great Southern Land on Tuesday, during a ceremony at the Boeing factory in Seattle, the United States.
With the cutting edge design set to revolutionize long distance travel, Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce said in a statement obtained by Xinhua, the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is an important milestone for the airline and a "game-changer" for travellers.
"From the distance it's able to fly, to the attention to detail we've put into the cabin design, it will reshape what people come to expect from international travel, he said.
"The Dreamliner makes routes like Perth to London possible, which will be the first direct air link Australia has ever had with Europe."
"And it means other potential routes are now on the drawing board as well."
Beginning in December, Qantas will be the first airline to fly from Melbourne to Los Angeles directly and in March 2018, non-stop flights between London and Perth will also commence.
In total, eight new Dreamliners will be delivered to Qantas before the end of 2018.
The breakthrough model will also include a number of upgrades in comfort, according to Joyce.
"There are lots of elements that combine to make the Qantas Dreamliner special," he said.
"The seats, the lighting, the entertainment, personal storage, right through to the special crockery, cutlery and glassware that weighs on average 11 per cent less."
There will also be more space with less passengers on board.
Boeing's previous 787 Dreamliner was able to carry 335 passengers, however the new, more roomy 787-9 version is only expected to fly 236 travellers.
Other improvements include the use of ride-dampening technology to make the cabin quieter and minimise the effects of turbulence, as well as larger windows and far greater fuel efficiency.
Qantas also believe better air quality onboard the new aircraft may help "reduce jet lag."
"We're working with sleep specialists, dieticians and other scientists at the University of Sydney to see how adjustments to our inflight service can improve wellbeing and help people adjust to new timezones," Joyce said.
