First non-stop UK flights to Sydney to go via North Pole

When the first non-stop passenger flights between London and Sydney begin early in 2027, the aircraft could fly over the North Pole.

- SIMON CALDER

The most direct route on the 10,573-mile link, known as Project Sunrise”, passes over Russia. The great circle” journey indicates about four hours’ flying time in Russian airspace between the Latvian and the Kazakh frontiers.

The airspace above the world’s biggest country is currently closed to “Western” aircraft including British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Qantas.

But Vanessa Hudson, chief executive of the Australian airline, told The Independent that being unable to fly over Russia would not pose a problem to the flights.

“Geopolitics is a part of any operational consideration, but these aircraft won’t need to fly over Russia to be able to make the distance,” she said.