The newly delivered Qantas Dreamliner has begun its practice runs on domestic routes during a crew familiarisation programme that will operate until 14 December.
The Boeing 787-9 will service select domestic flights between Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney over the next six weeks in preparation for its first international departure from Melbourne to Los Angeles scheduled for 15 December of this year. This will allow the Qantas pilots, cabin crew and ground operations teams to learn all about the next-gen aircraft, as well as give domestic travellers the opportunity to sample the Dreamliner.
The Qantas Dreamliner is scheduled to operate on domestic routes that the Airbus A330 is ordinarily deployed on. This includes Melbourne and Perth, which will serve as hubs for the aircraft’s Los Angeles and London services.
From 3 November until 14 December, passengers wanting to catch the Qantas Dreamliner during the week from Monday to Friday can do so as follows:
QF775 Melbourne-Perth (7.10am-8.20am)
QF772 Perth-Melbourne (9.55am-4.30pm)
QF460 Melbourne-Sydney (6.30pm-7.55pm)
QF497 Sydney-Melbourne (10pm-11.35pm)
If you’re looking to travel on the weekend, you can try your luck on a Saturday on the 4, 11 and 25 November, as well as on 2 and 9 December between Melbourne and Sydney. Flight times are:
QF422 Melbourne-Sydney (10am-11.25am)
QF439 Sydney-Melbourne (2pm-3.35pm)
Please do note that Qantas do not guarantee that passengers will travel on the Dreamliner and some flights may be operated by the A330 aircraft as operational requirements demand.
Qantas’ version of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, named Great Southern Land, will consist of 236 seats across economy, premium economy, and business class. The aircraft will feature the Boeing-designed turbulence dampening technology, improved air quality to reduce jetlag, and 65 per cent larger windows.
Australian designer David Caon has shaped the look and feel of the cabins, whilst prominent restaurateur Neil Perry has designed the meals. Sydney University’s Charles Perkins Centre have been appointed in improving inflight health and wellbeing.
