With a Taylor Swift concert set for Sydney tonight, and severe storm activity due to set in, the Australian national flag carrier Qantas is pulling out the big guns to ensure that passengers get into Sydney without undue delays.
The carrier will deploy its largest aircraft, the Airbus A380 on the short haul route between Melbourne and Sydney.
Big Top A380 Melbourne-Sydney
With thousands of Swifties set to descend on the New South Wales capital city tonight for the first of four sell-out shows, Qantas has announced a proactive measure to mitigate disruptions caused by the impending severe storms.
Recognizing the scale of the event and the influx of passengers expected, especially concert goers, the airline has decided to deploy its largest aircraft, the Airbus A380, on the short-haul route between Melbourne and Sydney.
Taylor Swift’s Melbourne leg of the tour saw attendance numbers of 96,000 on each of the three nights in the Victorian capital.
The decision to deploy the A380 comes in response to forecasts of severe weather that could potentially disrupt air travel operations, with Airservices Australia already imposing limitations on arrivals and departures at Sydney Airport for all airlines.
This has already led to a series of cancellations and delays across various flights.
The A380, with a capacity to carry 485 passengers, is equivalent to almost three Boeing 737 flights typically operating on this route.
The passengers accommodated on the A380 were originally booked on three separate flights scheduled from 4 pm onwards, indicating that their travel plans might not be solely related to attending the Taylor Swift concert.
Additionally, Qantas has canceled a fourth flight, with affected customers reaccommodated on alternative services.
The deployment of the A380 highlights Qantas’ operational flexibility, as the aircraft is usually reserved for international routes to destinations like London and Los Angeles.
However, in response to the heightened demand for travel to Sydney, the airline has repurposed this operational spare to bolster its domestic operations.
Details about the Special Service…
Flight QF7168 is scheduled to depart from Melbourne International Terminal 2 at 5:00 pm and arrive at Sydney International Terminal at 6:40 pm, allowing passengers to reach their destination in a timely manner despite the challenging weather conditions.
In an effort to minimize inconvenience, Qantas has proactively communicated with impacted customers, providing them with detailed information regarding their new flight arrangements.
Moreover, for passengers traveling to Sydney from other ports, the airline is offering the option to switch to earlier flights where available.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly newsleter.
Click the photo to join our WhatsApp channel so then you can stay up to date with everything going on in the aviation industry!
