Qantas Takes Delivery of Fourth Airbus A380

Qantas has taken delivery of its fourth Airbus A380, with the aircraft touching down in Sydney earlier today after a ferry flight from Toulouse, France.

The new Qantas A380 will allow the airline to increase services to Los Angeles and London from 7 September 2009.

"This fourth aircraft will allow us to increase Sydney-Singapore-London A380 services from three to five per week, and Sydney-Los Angeles services from three to four per week," said Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce.

"Our fifth and sixth A380s are also due for delivery by the end of the year, after which we will offer customers daily A380 services to London and Los Angeles from Sydney and increase Melbourne-Los Angeles services from two to three per week."

The new aircraft is named Fergus McMaster in honour of one of the airline's founders and its first Chairman.

The first three Qantas A380s are named: Nancy-Bird Walton, after the first woman to fly a commercial aviation service in Australia; and Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinness, the two other founders of Qantas. Hudson Fysh was also Qantas' first Managing Director.

Since October 2008, Qantas has carried more than 300,000 passengers on its 450-seat, four class A380 services.

In addition to the fifth and sixth aircraft due by the end of 2009, a further three are scheduled for delivery in 2010.

See other recent news regarding: Airlines, Airports, Flights, Codeshare, Lounges, First Class, Business Class, GDS, Rewards, Miles, Hotels, Apartments, Promotions, Spas, New Hotels, Traffic, Visitor Arrivals, Cruises, Free Deals, Qantas, Airbus, A380, Sydney, Singapore, Los Angeles, London