Qantas is preparing to say goodbye to the last six of their iconic Jumbo Jets by the end of 2020. On the 2nd of May, they announced that their ground-breaking Dreamliners, the hot topic of 2018, will replace the older style planes.
“This really is the end of one era and the start of another. The jumbo has been the backbone of Qantas International for more than 40 years and we’ve flown almost every type that Boeing built” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said.
“This is a truly historic flight that opens up a new era of travel. For the first time, Australia and Europe have a direct air link,” said Mr Joyce.
“The original Kangaroo Route from Australia to London was named for the seven stops it made over four days back in 1947. Now we can do it in a single leap.”
Qantas International has ordered 6 additional aircraft to grow the Dreamliner fleet to 14 aeroplanes in the next two years.
In previous times Qantas’ route from Dallas to Sydney was their longest non-stop commercial flight, taking just over 17 hours from the city to city. But the company changed the aviation game when they broke new records this year with the first successful direct flight connecting Australia to Europe.
The inaugural Dreamliner, Boeing 787-8, left Perth International Airport at 7 pm on Saturday the 24th of March and headed straight to London. The record-breaking QF9 carried over 200 passengers and 16 crew members and created history when it landed safely at London Heathrow at 5:10 am on Sunday the 25th.
In the 60s Qantas was preparing for the incorporation of bigger aircraft into the company, later known as the 747 Jumbo Jets. The first Qantas 747 aircraft hit the skies in September of 1971. The release came with cheap fares with huge savings, which increased passenger interest and ultimately boosted revenue. This type of aircraft enabled more people to travel internationally and reach a wide range of places in less time.
Three years later Qantas established itself as a world record-breaker within the aviation industry. The airline evacuated 673 people from Darwin after Cyclone Tracy on a single flight in 1973. This set Qantas apart as they flew the 747 that carried the most passengers than ever before on one aircraft. They went on to successfully fly 4925 people out from the disaster-affected area.
The older 747s are larger aircraft that carry 364 passengers compared to the 787’s 236 passenger capacity. But as indicated by its name, the interiors of the 787 are what dreams are made of with a major focus on Business and Premium economy seating classes.
The Dreamliner burns approximately 20% less fuel than its historical predecessor and aims to improve efficiency, comfort and enable more route alternatives for the airline. Qantas hopes to expand their reach across the world with more direct flights to the Americas, Asia, South Africa and Europe. Similarly, plans are already in motion to launch the first non-stop commercial flight from Australia’s busiest airport, Sydney, to London Heathrow in the next four years.
“By the end of 2020, we’ll have farewelled the 747, finished upgrading the cabins of our A380s and welcomes our fourteenth 787. That’s a great proposition for our customers and creates some really exciting opportunities for our people” said Mr Joyce.
The plans for the expansion of the fleet of Dreamliners is in full flight, with Qantas expecting to invest in an additional 787 simulator as part of their training program for future pilots. There are big plans ahead for the airline that calls Australia home, and it seems that with the company’s new developments, travel with them will never be the same again.