American Airlines has officially launched its longest passenger route ever, connecting the U.S. to Australia with flight AA7. The journey began at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday, October 26, at 10:11 p.m. UTC, and concluded at Brisbane Airport at 5:55 a.m. local time on Monday, October 28.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was airborne for a stunning 15 hours and 44 minutes, covering a distance of 13,636 kilometers (8,473 miles), based on data from Flightradar24. This inaugural flight is part of a newly established route that will be operating several times a week, with the first return flight to Dallas scheduled for Tuesday, October 29.
José Freig, American Airlines’ VP of international operations, expressed enthusiasm about the new Brisbane flight, saying, “The response to our announcement has been fantastic. Landing in the Sunshine State is a significant moment for us.”
Freig further noted that this route enhances connectivity for Brisbane travelers to American’s largest hub, opening doors to a variety of global destinations.
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff added, “Today marks a historic moment for both Brisbane and Queensland. This new link brings tremendous opportunities for both regions across the Pacific.”
For aviation fans, the arrival was live-streamed on YouTube, and it was anticipated to be one of Flightradar24’s most followed flights. Ian Petchenik, Flightradar24’s communications director, mentioned, “A lot of people are excited to watch this flight’s progress and see it land live.” Over 400 eager viewers entered a competition to witness the aircraft’s touchdown in Brisbane.
Brisbane marks American Airlines’ second Australian route, joining the already operational daily service from Los Angeles to Sydney. Additionally, the airline has expanded its international offerings this year, adding flights from Philadelphia to Copenhagen, Naples, and Nice, with a new service to Barcelona from Dallas in May.