Qantas unveils first 787 Dreamliner
The Great Southern Land 787-9 aircraft will offer flyers new routes and heightened levels of comfort.
In the lead up to its inaugural Australian landing this week, Qantas has unveiled its first Boeing Dreamliner today. The 787 is the latest addition to the Qantas fleet and it will feature upgraded seating in Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class, offering more space and a lower passenger count. The 787-9 in particular is named the Great Southern Land and is just one of eight aircraft names that were chosen from 45,000 votes in June.
The new Dreamliner will also open up new international routes for travellers. Two of the Dreamliner routes that have already been announced include Melbourne to Los Angeles starting in December 2017 and Perth to London in March 2018.
“The Dreamliner makes routes like Perth to London possible, which will be the first direct air link Australia has ever had with Europe,” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce at a Boeing ceremony in Seattle. “And it means other potential routes are now on the drawing board as well.”
The interiors of the aircraft and seating were engineered by David Caon, an Australian designer who has worked with Qantas on previous cabin upgrades and lounges in Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Dreamliner will feature larger windows, better air quality to reduce jetlag and ride dampening technology which will minimise the impacts of turbulence. You can also fly with greater peace of mind knowing that the airline is quieter, more fuel efficient and generates fewer greenhouse emissions than other aircrafts of its size.
Qantas has also been working with sleep specialists and dieticians to help improve the quality of the flights and wellbeing of its passengers.
By the end of 2018, travellers can expect eight Dreamliners to join Qantas’ fleet which will make room for the retirement of five of the airline’s 747s. Travelling all the way from the Boeing factory in Seattle, the Dreamliner 787-9 (registered as VH-ZNA) is set to land in Sydney for the first time this Friday morning.
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Pictures: Qantas
