Brisbane scores four Qantas Dreamliners

Qantas has made a tonne of announcements recently, from a new Melbourne lounge, upgraded planes and a killer financial year profit.

And now? New roots in Brisbane – creating 470 new jobs.

Qantas has just announced that four 787-9 Dreamliners will be based in Brisbane – giving Brissy passengers more access to long-haul flights and potentially opening up some new international routes.

Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO, said that the new base will, long term, drive more international tourism into Queensland.

“Queensland is the birthplace of Qantas and it’s fitting that we will base four of our Dreamliners in the state,” Joyce said.

“The 787 offers a step-change for customers in terms of comfort and efficiency and we are pleased Queenslanders will be able to experience them direct from Brisbane.

“Each aircraft we base in Brisbane brings new jobs. One hundred and twenty of our Dreamliner cabin crew and pilots will be based in the city, with many choosing to settle in the state. A further 350 indirect jobs are expected to be created as a result.”

The four planes are half of the eight Qantas ordered – with the other four set to be based in Melbourne; serving routes to Los Angeles in late 2017 and London in 2018.

The Dreamliners will be delivered from Boeing in late October – but the first to be based in Brisbane won’t arrive until mid-2018, ready for the new runway at Brisbane airport.

Julieanne Alroe, CEO and Managing Director of Brisbane Airport Corporation, said that the announcement was a vote of confidence for Queensland.

“It is a significant and very timely commitment by Qantas to base four of these state-of-the-art aircraft in Brisbane, particularly given Brisbane’s new runway will open in a few short years,” she said.

“While other ports are reaching maximum capacity, the new runway will double flight capability to and from Brisbane, positioning Brisbane and Queensland as the logical future major gateway to Australia.”

In the last financial year, Brisbane Airport grew internationally by seven per cent – and Qantas’ announcement will only further that growth in the years to come.

“These new aircraft have a flight range of nearly 16,000 kilometres (8,500 nautical miles), opening up a new world of opportunities, securing opportunities in the tourism, trade, investment, business and education sectors for many years to come,” Alroe said.

“For Queensland travellers it will mean having access to more non-stop ultra-long haul routes direct from Brisbane in an aircraft that offers unparalleled passenger comfort, while also positioning Brisbane as the new gateway for access into North America,” she added.

From Brisbane, the Qantas Dreamliner is able to fly to international destinations like parts of the US, Canada and Asia non-stop – and Qantas is looking at a variety of new destinations from Brisbane Airport.

“We’ve said that initially our Dreamliners will replace the routes that our older 747 fly but there are also new destinations we are looking at given the capability of the aircraft.

“A range of exciting options is on the table that will help drive tourism to the state and we look forward to making that decision in coming months,” Joyce said.

“I’d like to acknowledge the support of the Queensland Government, Brisbane Airport Corporation and Tourism Australia for helping to make our Brisbane Dreamliner base a reality,” he added.

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