Two new Qantas and American Airlines services will take off in the next 24 hours, giving the airlines’ customers unrivalled choice of flights across the Pacific.
Qantas Flight 73 will depart from Sydney to San Francisco this afternoon, marking the Flying Kangaroo’s return to the popular route, followed by the departure of American Airlines Flight 72 from Sydney to Los Angeles tomorrow morning.
The new services have been made possible by an expanded commercial partnership between national carrier Qantas and American, the world’s biggest airline, and form part of a broader trans-Pacific network spanning Australian, New Zealand and the United States.
Together, the airlines will offer customers 50 return services per week between Australia and the US, including Honolulu.
“This is a new era for both airlines and we’re excited to be unlocking new travel options for our customers and helping to build trade, tourism and investment opportunities for the Australian and US economies.”
Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO
“These new services are a good news story for Australian tourism, with American Airlines now promoting brand Australia across its massive domestic network.”
Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines, added that together they will enhance the benefits of flying for customers.
“With this new Qantas service to San Francisco and American’s new daily service to Los Angeles, customers are the clear winners when travelling with our two great airlines,” he said.
Qantas’ Sydney-San Francisco services will ramp up to six per week in January 2016, with all flights to be operated by Boeing 747-400 aircraft with the same interiors that feature on the airline’s flagship A380s.
American’s flagship B777-300ER will operate daily on the Sydney-Los Angeles route with fully lie-flat seats in First and Business Class and international Wi-Fi.
To celebrate the launch of Qantas’ new Sydney to San Francisco services, customers on-board QF73 will be treated to a special figure eight flyover of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay area, before touching down at San Francisco Airport which will be lit up with Qantas colours during the evening.
American’s B777-300 ER service from Los Angeles into Sydney on Saturday will be given a water cannon salute and customers on the first flight out of Australia will enjoy cupcakes and champagne at the gate as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony.
