Qantas Airlines has completed a New York-Sydney nonstop trial service. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner made the flight in 19 hours and 16 minutes, the world’s longest-ever commercial flight.

Qantas flight QF7879 took off from New York’s JFK airport at 9:27 p.m. (local time) on Friday night and touched down 7:43 a.m. (local time) on Sunday at Sydney airport.

"A total of 49 passengers and crew were on the flight, which was used to run a series of experiments to assess health and well-being onboard. Data from these experiments will be used to help shape the crew rostering and customer service of Qantas’ ultra-long-haul

flights in future," the Australian carrier said in a statement.

The tests ranged from monitoring pilot brain waves, melatonin levels and alertness, through to exercise classes for passengers. Cabin lighting and in-flight meals were also adjusted in ways that are expected to help reduce jetlag, according to the medical researchers and scientists who have partnered with Qantas.

“This is a really significant first for aviation. Hopefully, it’s a preview of a regular service that will speed up how people travel from one side of the globe to the other," Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said.

Two more research flights are planned as part of the Project Sunrise evaluations – London to Sydney in November and another New York to Sydney in December.

Project Sunrise is Qantas’ goal to operate regular, non-stop commercial flights from the east coast of Australia (Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne) to London and New York.

“We know ultra long haul flights pose some extra challenges but that’s been true every time technology has allowed us to fly further. The research we’re doing should give us better strategies for improving comfort and wellbeing along the way," Joyce said.

“What’s already clear is how much time you can save. Our regular, one-stop New York to Sydney service (QF12) took off three hours before our direct flight but we arrived a few minutes ahead of it, meaning we saved a significant amount of total travel time by not having to stop,” Joyce added.

Qantas captain Sean Golding, who led the four pilots operating the service, said the ride "went really smoothly" despite "headwinds overnight" and welcomed the development to gather some of the data we needed for Qantas to assess turning the test flight into a regular service.

“We had a lot of interest from air traffic controllers as we crossed through different airspace because of the uniqueness of this flight. We also had a special sign off and welcome home from the control towers in New York and Sydney, which you don’t get every day," he said.

Reports said the flight produced the equivalent carbon dioxide emissions of burning more than 700 barrels of oil but Qantas said carbon emissions from the flights will be fully offset.

A decision on Project Sunrise is expected by the end of the year.