The Australian carrier urged manufacturers to deliver aircraft capable of travelling the distance which would take travellers from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to the UK and US capitals without a stopover.

Speaking to media today (August 25) following the airline publishing its full year financial results, chief executive Alan Joyce called the routes “a last frontier in global aviation”, Reuters reports. 

In a statement he added: “From next year we’ll be flying direct from Perth to London, which is a huge leap forward. We believe advances in technology in the next few years will make Sydney to London direct a possibility and Qantas is well placed to be the airline to do it.

“Any aircraft purchase would have to meet strict financial thresholds, but these direct flights would be revolutionary for air travel in Australia.”

Qantas’s plans came after the airline posted its second highest profit in its 97-year history.

The Australian carrier posted a pre-tax profit of £860 million for the year to the end of June.

The airline’s highest ever profit was delivered the previous year.

Qantas said profits were the result of cost cutting and robust domestic business which helped offset global competition.

Joyce added: “Three years ago, we started an ambitious turnaround program to make the Qantas Group strong and profitable. We tackled some difficult structural issues, became a lot more efficient and kept improving customer service.

“Today’s announcements show this plan has well and truly paid off. It’s delivered $3.5 billion in cumulative underlying profit, record customer satisfaction and the opportunity for Qantas to grow.”

The Sydney-based carrier also announced its fleet of 12 Airbus A380s would be receiving a “significant upgrade”.

The investment will see Qantas replacing Skybeds in business-class with the latest version of its Business Suite seats with working beginning in the second quarter of 2019.