Qantas has become the first airline to operate commercial A380 flights between Australia and the US West Coast, when its inaugural A380 service departed Melbourne for Los Angeles.
The Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, said Qantas’ decision to fly its first commercial service to the United States was a mark of its commitment to growing the trans-Pacific market.
Mr Dixon said Qantas would follow its Melbourne-Los Angeles inaugural A380 service with its first Sydney-Los Angeles service on Friday, 24 October.
Mr Dixon said Qantas would take delivery of three A380 aircraft by the end of 2008, and have eight in service by the end of 2009. Its 20-strong order would be delivered by the end of 2013.
“By the end of 2009, when our eighth aircraft has been delivered, Qantas will offer daily A380 services to Los Angeles from Melbourne.”
He said the airline’s first A380 services to London, via Singapore, would commence in January 2009.
The first Qantas A380 is named Nancy-Bird Walton after the 92 year-old Australian aviation pioneer.
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