Melbourne snags Dreamliner to USA

Melbourne snags Dreamliner to USA

Melbourne to Los Angeles has been announced as the first Dreamliner route for Qantas’ new aircraft arriving in 2017.

Passengers flying from Melbourne will be the first to experience the Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner when inaugural international service takes-off on 15 December next year, subject to approval.

The Qantas Dreamliner will carry 236 passengers in a three-class configuration and complement the daily Airbus A380 service already flying from Melbourne to Los Angeles. Operating six times per week, the Dreamliner will replace the 747 service that currently operates on this route alongside the A380.

“The Dreamliner is a game-changing aircraft that opens up a new era for Qantas, and it’s been designed with passenger comfort in mind,” Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans said.

“In Economy there’s more room and plenty of storage. In Business, our suites will offer a fully flat bed and direct aisle access. We’ll be unveiling our Premium Economy in the first quarter of next year and it will set new standards for the industry.”

Tourism Australia MD John O’Sullivan said that choosing the United States to deploy the first of its B787 Dreamliners was an intelligent move by Qantas.

“Yesterday’s international arrivals figures highlight the seemingly insatiable level of demand for Australia amongst American travellers. We welcomed just shy of 700,000 American visitors in the past 12 months, with growth on a scale we haven’t enjoyed since the heady days of the Sydney Olympics, back in 2000,” he said.

The 787-9 Melbourne-Los Angeles service will operate six days a week, taking the total number of Qantas services on the route from nine to 13 return flights per week with both a morning or afternoon departure from Melbourne on most days.

Fares will be on sale from Christmas Day 2016.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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