Qantas first 787-9 Dreamliner Great Southern Land. (Qantas photo)
Qantas took delivery of Great Southern Land, its first 787-9 Dreamliner with aircraft registration VH-ZNA last week from Boeing Delivery Centre at Everett, Washington. The latest addition to the Qantas fleet features next generation seating in Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class featuring more space and a lower passenger count than most of the airline’s competitors.
The Dreamliner will allow Qantas to have a direct air link between Australia and Europe flying routes such as Perth to London. The aircraft allows the airline to work on potential routes. Qantas is working with sleep specialists, dieticians and other scientists at the University of Sydney to see how adjustments to the airline’s inflight service can improve well being and help people adjust to new timezones.
Interiors of the aircraft and seating were shaped by Australian industrial designer David Caon who has also collaborated with Qantas on cabin upgrades and its lounges in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Eight Dreamliners will be delivered to Qantas by end 2018 so that they can retire five of its 747s. The Dreamliner will be deployed on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route in December 2017 and on the Perth-London route from March next year. Additional flights from Brisbane have also been flagged.
