Australia · Route··6 min read

London to Perth Delayed — UK261 for World's Longest Non-Stop Flight

Qantas QF10 LHR–PER held the world's longest scheduled non-stop record (17h 50m, 14,499 km) until March 2026. UK departure on Qantas triggers UK261 — £520 (≈A$1,000) per passenger for arrival delays of 3+ hours in Perth, regardless of routing.

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Why UK261 Applies — UK Departure Rule

UK261 protects every flight departing a UK airport regardless of carrier nationality. Heathrow is a UK airport; QF10 leaves Heathrow — UK261 applies. Qantas being Australian doesn't exempt them on UK departures, just as it doesn't exempt them on EU departures (Rome, Paris).

Compensation — £520 (≈A$1,000) per Passenger

UK261 long-haul tier (over 3,500 km) is fixed at £520. PER is well over the threshold from any UK departure (≈14,500 km non-stop, more via Singapore). Family of four: £2,080 (≈A$4,000).

Routing in 2026 — Singapore Stop

In March 2026, Qantas suspended PER–LHR non-stop due to closures of Middle East airspace. The route now operates via Singapore on the same QF9/QF10 flight numbers. UK261 still applies on the LHR-departing QF10 because it's a single UK-departure ticket.

Future plan: Qantas Project Sunrise (expected 2027) will introduce new SYD–LHR non-stop services on Airbus A350-1000ULR, which would also be UK261-covered on the LHR–SYD return.

Filing a QF10 UK261 Claim

  1. Capture actual arrival time at Perth using Flightradar24.
  2. File at qantas.com → Help → Compensation. Cite UK Regulation 261/2004 and the LHR departure.
  3. Wait 4–8 weeks.
  4. Escalate to UK CAA or CEDR if rejected. Both are free; CEDR decisions are binding on Qantas.

Common Rejection Defences

Qantas may cite extraordinary circumstances. Most defences don't hold up: technical faults (CJEU C-549/07), crew rostering, Qantas staff strikes (CJEU C-28/20). A no-win-no-fee service such as ClaimWinger handles rebuttals from Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does UK261 apply to QF10 LHR–PER?

Yes. UK261 protects every flight departing a UK airport, regardless of the carrier. QF10 leaves Heathrow — UK departure — so even though Qantas is Australian, UK261 applies. £520 (≈A$1,000) per passenger for arrival delays of 3+ hours.

Was QF10 the world's longest non-stop?

Yes — at 14,499 km in approximately 17 hours 50 minutes on Boeing 787-9, QF10 (and the corresponding outbound QF9) was the world's longest scheduled non-stop flight from March 2018 until its suspension in March 2026 due to airspace closures. Qantas now operates the route via Singapore.

How does the via-Singapore routing affect UK261?

Not at all. UK261 is triggered by the UK departure airport. Whether QF10 is non-stop or via Singapore on a single ticket, the regulation applies and pays £520 per passenger if your final arrival in Perth is 3+ hours late.

What if Qantas re-routes me on a different airline?

UK261 still applies on the original ticket. If Qantas books you on BA or Singapore Airlines instead and you arrive 3+ hours late, Qantas owes the £520 compensation. The replacement flight doesn't change the underlying obligation.

How do I claim a QF10 UK261 delay?

File at qantas.com → Help → Compensation. Booking reference, QF10 flight number, date, actual arrival time at Perth. Cite UK Regulation 261/2004. If rejected, escalate to UK CAA or CEDR. The UK statute of limitations is 6 years.

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