QANTAS CREATES HISTORY WITH INAUGURAL A-380 SERVICE AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

            (Los Angeles, California – October 20, 2008)  Qantas Airways today became the first airline to operate commercial Airbus A-380 flights between Australia and the U.S. West Coast, when its inaugural A-380 service arrived at Los AngelesInternationalAirport (LAX).  

            The flight from Melbourne landed in Los Angeles at about 7:30 a.m., where it was met by Qantas Ambassador-at-Large actor John Travolta, Australian entertainment legend Olivia Newton-John and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa.

            According to Qantas Chief Executive Officer Geoff Dixon, the airlines’ decision to fly its first commercial service to the United States was a mark of its commitment to growing the trans-Pacific market.

            Dixon said, “We have operated air services between the United States and Australia since 1954 and have invested significantly over our 54 years of operation to develop these routes.”  He added, “Today, we offer 47 services a week to the U.S., plus daily extensions to New York.  In fact, we offer more services to the U.S.A. than any other international market with the exception of New Zealand.” 

            Dixon said Qantas would follow its Melbourne-Los Angeles inaugural A-380 service with its first Sydney-Los Angeles service on Friday, Oct. 24.

            Mayor Villaraigosa said, "International aviation at LAX generates $82.1 billion a year for the Southern California economy.  This economy sustains 363,700 jobs with annual wages of $19.3 billion for our residents.  The arrival of this magnificent aircraft couldn't come at a better time."  The mayor added, “The new large aircraft will usher in an era of international transportation, defined not only by the size of the aircraft but by their efficiency.  The environment is about to experience the greenest, cleanest and quietest transoceanic airplane ever built."

            Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, the City agency that owns and operates LAX and three other Southern California airports, said she is heartened by Qantas’ choice of LAX as its first destination for commercial A-380 service.  “Qantas has had a strong presence at LAX for nearly 30 years.  I am proud to say that we serve as Qantas’s North American home base.”

            Lindsey added, “Today’s arrival of its new A-380 is a tangible expression of confidence in our work to design and build facilities equal to the standards of the world’s most demanding passengers and the airlines that will serve them.  I cannot overstate our commitment to affirm this confidence in the months and years ahead.”

            The Qantas A-380 is configured with 450 seats in four cabins – 14 in First Class, 72 in Business Class, 32 in Premium Economy and 332 in Economy Class – with interiors designed by world renowned Australian industrial designer and Qantas Creative Director Marc Newson .

            Features include:

• 14 single private suites in First Class featuring a 17-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) wide-screen video monitor, a unique touch-screen control unit, and a seat (manufactured by B/E Aerospaces’ VIP jet group) that swivels into a comfortable armchair and a fully flat, extra long and wide bed;
• the next generation of Qantas’ award-winning sleeper seat Skybed in Business Class, which now offers an extra long and fully flat bed with ergonomically enhanced  cushioning, a larger in-arm entertainment screen, additional storage options and more privacy;
• a private lounge area in the upper deck Business Class cabin featuring leather sofas, a self-service bar, large video monitor with laptop connectivity and a feature display cabinet;
• Premium Economy seats by Recaro, with fully adjustable, in-arm, digital wide-screen television monitors, and a self-service bar dedicated to the upper deck Premium Economy cabin;
• Recaro seats in Economy Class featuring a sliding base that moves with the seat back to create a more comfortable, ergonomically tested position to aid sleep and eliminate pressure points and a foot net to stop sliding during sleep.
• four self-service bars in Economy Class; and
• state-of-the-art Panasonic in-flight entertainment system with more than 100 on-demand movies, 500 television selections, up to 1,000 audio CDs, 30 PC-style games, and a selection of audio books, language tutorials, destination information, business education and radio channels. 

            Qantas CEO Dixon said the airline would take delivery of three A-380 aircraft by the end of 2008, and have eight in service by the end of 2009.  Its 20-strong order would be delivered by the end of 2013.

            “By the end of 2009, when our eighth aircraft has been delivered, Qantas will offer daily A-380 services to Los Angeles from Melbourne,” Dixon said.  He added that the airline’s first A-380 services to London, via Singapore, would begin January 2009.

            The first Qantas A-380 that arrived at LAX is named Nancy-Bird Walton after the 92- year-old, famed Australian aviation pioneer.

Qantas and the USA