Historic non-stop flight between Australia and UK takes off

Passengers have taken off for the first direct flight between Australia and London, passing a major milestone by reducing to 17 hours a trip that once took 12 1/2 days. The 9,000-mile flight from Perth, one of the world’s most isolated cities, marks the first direct passenger service between the continents. Qantas Airways' inaugural service between the Australian city of Perth and Heathrow took off on Saturday evening and will touch down in London at 5.05am on Sunday before departing