Qantas announced plans to deploy an Airbus A380 aircraft on the Sydney-Hong Kong route from January 15 next year. At the same time, it will also increase frequencies on the sector, operating four return services per week between Hong Kong and Sydney, said the airline's chief executive, Alan Joyce.
This expansion is made possible by two new A380s that the carrier is slated to receive by year end.
The four flights will operate on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Currently, Qantas has one direct return flight on this route on a Boeing B747-400. It also operates one additional direct flight from Hong Kong to Sydney using an A330-300, while other flights between Sydney and Hong Kong go either via Melbourne or Brisbane.
Hong Kong is the carrier’s fourth destination to be served by the A380 after Singapore, London and Los Angeles. The two new superjumbos will also enable Qantas to increase frequencies between Melbourne and London, via Singapore, from six flights per week to a daily service, while flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles will go from a four weekly service to a daily service.
This move will hopefully lift Qantas’ reputation, which has recently been trounced by conflict with its unions (see story here) and technical difficulties (see story here).
For more information, visit www.qantas.com.au
Alisha Haridasani
