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The world's longest flight, which will see passengers strapped into a plane for a whopping 22 hours, will soon take off from the UK. Australian airline Qantas is set to launch a new direct route between London and Sydney, with plans for the new 10,600 mile route to take off in 2027.

Once launched, the route will surpass the current longest journey, a 19-hour, 9,537-mile trip between New York's JFK Airport and Singapore Changi. Qantas already offers non-stop flights between London and Perth in the west coast of Australia, a journey of just over 9,000 miles.

The airline has previously embarked on a series of test flights to Sydney, but 2027 will mark the start of passenger commercial flights on the route. Passengers booking to fly from London to Sydney will usually have to stop at least once, with connecting flights usually taking off from Singapore, Dubai or Kuala Lumpur.

Once launched, direct services are likely to cut up to four hours off the total travel time when compared with other one-stop services today. Qantas will also link Sydney to New York City for the first time as their 'Project Sunrise' plans take hold.

To make the mammoth journey a reality, Qantas has invested in a swathe of brand-new Airbus A350-1000ULR units. The Australian airline has described the plane as the "ultimate long-range aircraft".

The biggest addition for the new plane is the inclusion of an extra 20,000-litre fuel tank. The extra tank, around 5,283 gallons of extra fuel, will sit in the rear center fuselage. The plane has a wingspan of 64.75m and is set to cruise just under the speed of sound at Mach 0.85.

However, inside the models are set to offer passengers the height of luxury with the six first-class suites expected. The plane is also understood to include a staggering 52 business-class suites, 40 premium economy seats, and room for 140 economy passengers.

Qantas has already explained that there are plans to install a Wellbeing Zone onboard that will be available for all passengers, described as a "dedicated space with guided wellbeing content and a selection of healthy refreshments".

After such a long journey, sleep may be the first thing on passengers' minds when they land Down Under. However, Qantas suggests that this may no longer be an issue.

The airline has apparently worked with sleep scientists to help combat jetlag through customised lighting and a specially timed meal service.