Ultimate flight nearer as Qantas Airways refines plan for London direct

Australian carrier working to clear pilot, regulatory hurdles

Qantas Airways Ltd.’s vision for the first direct flights from Sydney to London is inching closer to reality as Boeing Co. and Airbus SE finalize proposals for longer-range jets needed to span the 10,600-mile trip.

Qantas is also stepping up work on making the estimated 20-hour journey to the U.K. capital and cities including New York and Paris more comfortable, Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said in an interview. That includes picking the right number of seats and a cabin layout that may include beds in the hold.

In linking spots on the opposite sides of the globe, the new