News: Slow progress to Oz

London Heathrow to Sydney is the most competitive air route in the world; more than a dozen airlines will take you between the two airports, though only two - British Airways and Qantas - offer same-plane service, via Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong.

London Heathrow to Sydney is the most competitive air route in the world; more than a dozen airlines will take you between the two airports, though only two - British Airways and Qantas - offer same-plane service, via Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong.

From 7 December, Virgin Atlantic enters the fray by extending its existing London-Hong Kong service to Sydney. But the new entrant will be significantly slower than its rivals.

Virgin's evening departure is scheduled to take 22 hours 40 minutes outbound. But the Qantas flight that leaves 15 minutes later and lands en route at Bangkok is one hour faster. BA's services are nearly as quick.

The reasons: Virgin Atlantic's Airbus jets are slower than its rivals' Boeings, and the routing via Hong Kong involves a longer journey than transits at Singapore or Bangkok. The fastest flight of all, the morning departure on Qantas via Singapore, takes just 21 hours and five minutes; there is less "padding" of the schedules because the flight departs and arrives at quieter times for both airports.

Inbound, the journey takes longer because of the prevailing winds. Virgin's new service is scheduled for just 10 minutes short of a full day. Qantas flight one via Bangkok is nearly two hours faster - though Qantas flight nine from Sydney to London is routed via Melbourne and Singapore and takes nearly 26 hours.

If non-stop services were introduced, the London-Sydney flight would take about 19 hours outbound, 21 hours inbound. Although the new Airbus A340-500 has the range for such a flight, BA, Qantas and Virgin do not operate the jet. The fastest direct UK-Australia link is the 19-hour Qantas flight from London to Perth.

* From next month, Australia-bound travellers will be able more easily to combine world-class skiing in Canada with the southern summer sun in Sydney. Starting on 16 December, Air Canada (0871 220 1111; www.aircanada.ca) launches the first non-stop service between Sydney and Vancouver - Australia-bound travellers can break their journey at the world's friendliest city.

Going south, there is a direct connection from Air Canada's flight from Heathrow. The Vancouver-Sydney flight pauses at Honolulu to refuel, but passengers stay on board. They therefore avoid the need to go through US immigration. Heading back, the trans-Pacific flight is non-stop, and the schedule allows for a full day of skiing at Whistler, two hours from Vancouver.