Qantas has proudly announced the arrival of its latest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to the Australian shores. Named ‘Snowy River’ with the official registration VH-ZNN, this aircraft marks the eighth new addition to the Qantas Group fleet this year.
The airline has been diligently working to increase its international capacity, not only by adding new aircraft but also by bringing back two A380s from long-term storage.
The ‘Snowy River’ flew from Seattle to Melbourne in a 19-hour delivery flight, making a special tribute to its namesake region, the Snowy Mountains.
Preparing for its maiden commercial flight
The arrival of the Dreamliner signifies an exciting phase for Qantas as it continues to enhance its international network and boost its services. Before commencing its maiden commercial flight, the aircraft underwent a series of pre-service checks and modifications.
Qantas engineers have ensured that it is equipped with essential features such as footrests, bassinets, and Qantas-specific safety equipment.
Today, the aircraft is scheduled to depart from Melbourne to Perth and further to London, marking the beginning of a new era in Qantas’ flight offerings.
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Expanding international network
With the arrival of the 787 Dreamliner, Qantas adds more capacity to its international network. The airline plans to increase the frequency of its Sydney-Auckland-New York flights from three to four per week starting from late October.
Earlier this year, the Qantas Group made headlines when it announced an ambitious plan to add approximately one million seats to its international network within 12 months.
This expansion strategy aims to provide customers with more choices to popular destinations across Asia, the United States, and the Pacific.
Fleet renewal program
The addition of the latest Dreamliner aligns with Qantas Group’s ongoing fleet renewal program. The airline has set an impressive target of adding a new aircraft to its fleet every three weeks, on average, over the next few years.
In this pursuit, QantasLink is also playing a significant role by assembling its first 137-seat Airbus A220 aircraft at Airbus’ production facility in Mirabel, Canada.
Anticipation builds as the first of 29 A220 aircraft is expected to arrive in Australia before the year’s end. These new aircraft are part of Qantas’ historic fleet renewal order, which aims to replace and expand its narrowbody fleet with up to 299 new aircraft.
Naming the new fleet
In a unique and engaging initiative, Qantas has called upon Australians to participate in naming the new fleet, centered around the theme of ‘native wildlife.’ The response has been overwhelming, with over 4,000 name submissions already received.
The public has been given the opportunity to submit up to six names each via qantas.com, and with two weeks remaining, excitement is mounting.
A shortlist will soon be released, allowing the public to vote for their favorite names. Ultimately, the final names will be unveiled, symbolizing a collective effort between the airline and its loyal customers.
Qantas comments
Qantas International & Freight CEO, Cam Wallace, expressed his enthusiasm about the recent developments. He highlighted that more aircraft means more flying, and this is excellent news for both customers and the airline’s workforce.
The arrival of a new aircraft is always a momentous occasion, and the Qantas teams across the board are ecstatic about ‘Snowy River’s’ first passenger flight to London.
As the fleet renewal program progresses, there is a strong sense of anticipation and commitment to delivering the best flying experience to customers.
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