AlastairMcKenzie.com

Qantas is highlighting the 75th anniversary of the first scheduled flights between Australia and England by offering two rare opportunities to relive those grand touring days on a 21-day or 22-day, 17 destination trip in a classic Convair CV580 propellor airliner.

These two trips, exclusive to Qantas Holidays, will see a total of 44 passengers, only 22 on each trip, travelling from Sydney to London or visa versa with the option of booking additional pre and post touring.

The 22-day London to Sydney Highlights of the Classical Route departs on 8th April 2010 and includes stops at some of the world’s finest archaeological wonders, as well as a ‘flight seeing’ expedition over the Himalayas. This tour is priced from £20,390 per person.

The 21-day Sydney to London Highlights of the Nostalgia Route departs on 18th March 2010 and follows as closely as possible the original flight route from Australia to England by the first scheduled air service back on 14 December 1934. This tour is priced from £21,900 per person.

Highlights include:

• great views as the aircraft flies slightly over 6,000 metres
• each passenger will have a window seat and business class leg-room
• daily flying time is limited to under four hours
• there are 17 stops on the eastbound journey and 16 on the westbound
• excursions include a Ganges dawn cruise and the Taj Mahal by moonlight
• hotels include the Raffles, the Oriental Bangkok and the Strand in Rangoon
• fast, private check-ins and immigration formalities in each destination
• the use of executive lounges with private departure gates to the aircraft

The eastbound Highlights of the Nostalgia Route includes stops in Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Burma, India, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Turkey and France.

The westbound Highlights of the Classical Route includes stops in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Uzbekistan, India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia and Australia.

All prices are per person based on two people sharing and include: travel by Convair CV 580 one way, travel in premium economy by Qantas A380 one way, all hotels, all meals, transfers, admission fees, sightseeing and guide.

The Convair CV 580 is a fully pressurised, air-conditioned jet-prop airliner operated by the New Zealand airline Pionair. Normally providing seating for up to 56 passengers, the aircraft used for these journeys has been fitted with 44 reclining armchair seats with a Business Class seating pitch of 96.5cm.

For additional comfort the number of passengers will be limited to 22 thereby allowing every passenger to have a window seat and plenty of room in which to move around the cabin. There is a hot and cold galley from which complimentary drinks and light refreshments will be offered throughout the journey. The aircraft is also equipped with a full-size toilet.