Airline News

Qantas adds new direct flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to cool Australian city

Qantas is Australia's most popular airline.

Qantas

There's a new direct flight for Dallas-Fort Worth travelers headed to the land down under: Qantas, Australia's national carrier, has debuted the first ever direct flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Melbourne, Australia. These are the first direct flights by any airline between the two cities.

According to a release, the addition of Melbourne follows the success of Qantas' longstanding route from Dallas/Fort Worth to Sydney.

Up until this debut, DFW travelers had to make a stop in Los Angeles or Sydney.

"The flight will reduce travel time by two to three hours for those who currently need to stop in Los Angeles or Sydney when traveling to Melbourne from Dallas/Fort Worth and other US cities like Washington DC and Boston," says Qantas domestic and international CEO Andrew David in a statement.

It's also a win for travelers from other destinations across the U.S. such as Charleston, Detroit, and Memphis, who had to make two stops to connect to Melbourne.

The route gives U.S. travelers better access not only to Melbourne but to other Australian cities. From Melbourne, travelers can connect to the Qantas Group’s extensive domestic network of more than 60 destinations around Australia.

“We have already seen a great response to these flights since they went on sale, not just from those set to visit Melbourne, but also from those wanting to take advantage of the excellent connections to popular destinations like Hobart and Adelaide," David says.

The flights operate three days a week – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays – with Qantas’ 236-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, offering lie-flat Business suites and a Premium Economy seat.

Melbourne is considered the cultural capital of Australia, known for its museums, art centers, and music, and has been ranked one of the most livable cities, with a "laid back feel-good vibe," says The Travel.com.

"Pre-COVID, business and holiday travel between the United States and Australia was growing exponentially and we’re seeing the demand bounce back," David says. "We’re excited to be providing our customers with another direct connection across the Pacific."

transportation vacation

Smoke on the Thames

2 Michelin-starred Texas pitmasters take their world-class BBQ to London

InterStellar and La Barbecue at The Ned London

The Ned London/thened.com

Even in Austin's home scene, these restaurants are considered the cream of the crop. Abroad, this is an extra special treat.

Two of Texas' best barbecue joints are are firing up their grills in London. Austin-based InterStellar and La Barbecue are in residence for one month a London hotel called The Ned.

Service started on September 4, and guests have until October 4 to see what great barbecue tastes like on the other side of the pond.

Each restaurant sent their best representative: John Bates of InterStellar BBQ and Ali Clem of La Barbecue, the two pitmasters who opened the restaurants and led them to barbecue's first Michelin stars. Both are somewhat traditional with a few signature twists, making them a good match beyond their similar levels of prestige.

Proteins on the menu include pork ribs, pulled lamb shoulder, chopped cheese sausage, and InterStellar's famous peach tea pork belly burnt ends. Brisket will be available as an add-on. The team is also cooking up sides and pairing the bites with cocktails made for the occasion by Jack Daniels.

The exclusive sharing tray is available for $75 per person, with a minimum of two people per reservation ($150). A 14.5 percent service gratuity is also being added.

Many barbecue fans understand that a smoker plays a huge part in the final product, and being away from home could dramatically change the cooking process. An Instagram post explains (and seems to lightly promote) that the pitmasters are using Ironbrand smokers, which are custom-made in the United Kingdom.

The residency is happening at Electric Bar & Diner, The Ned's all-day American diner. The 248-room hotel is located in Poultry, on the north side of the River Thames near St. Paul's Cathedral. It is also very near to the Bank Station, a connecting station for four rail routes, making it easy to get to from many parts of London.

Booking is already going fast, so guests who want to snag a space should commit soon.

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