Qantas Upgrades Dallas-Sydney to Airbus A380 Superjumbo

A Qantas A380 in London

Qantas Airways announced the launch of Airbus A380 service on its route between Dallas/Fort Worth and Sydney, Australia.

The use of the A380 allows the carrier to operate Dallas-Sydney as a non-stop route due to the plane’s additional range over the Boeing 747-400 formerly in use.  Previously, only flights from Sydney to Dallas were non-stop, while flights from Dallas to Sydney made a stop in Brisbane.

The switch to A380 service effectively makes the carrier the operator of the world’s largest aircraft, on the world’s longest non-stop route.

The 8,580-mile (13,800-kilometer) voyage between Dallas and Sydney became the longest scheduled commercial flight in the world by distance after Singapore Airlines discontinued non-stop service between Singapore and Newark and Singapore and Los Angeles late last year.  The two flights were 9,520 miles (15,300 kilometers) and 8,760 (14,100 kilometers), respectively.

Qantas’ new A380 service operates six times a week, on every day except Tuesday.  Flights depart Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport at 10:15 p.m., and arrive at Sydney Airport at 6:05 a.m. two days later.  From Sydney, flights depart at 1:10 p.m. and arrive in Dallas at 1:45 p.m. the same day.

The carrier’s A380 that operates the flights is equipped with 484 seats, including 14 in first class, 64 in business, 35 in Premium Economy (the airline’s premium economy lite section), and 371 in economy.  The first class-cabin has private suites in a 1-1-1 configuration with seats that extend to a 79” bed, while seats in business class are in a 2-2-2 configuration and extend into a 78” fully lie-flat bed.

The use of the A380 represents a 10% increase in available seating on the route.

In celebration of the occasion, Qantas outfitted the aircraft with a special livery; the airline’s signature kangaroo on the tail of the plane is shown wearing a traditional Stetson hat with a neckerchief that is decorated in stars from the American flag, while the words “G’Day Texas,” are painted next to the forward door.

Qantas is the flag carrier airline of Australia. The name comes from an acronym for “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services.”

(Photo: Accura Media Group)