Qantas launches Boeing 787 flights for Melbourne-Los Angeles

By David Flynn, December 22 2016
Qantas launches Boeing 787 flights for Melbourne-Los Angeles

Qantas' first Boeing 787-9 will make its international debut flying between Melbourne and Los Angeles from 15 December 2017, ahead of the start of non-stop Perth-London flights in March 2018.

The Dreamliner flights will operate six days a week as QF95/QF96, taking over from a Boeing 747 and running alongside Qantas' daily Airbus A380 service.

QF95 will depart now Melbourne at 2.25pm every day except Wednesday, to reach Los Angeles at 9.45am.

After spending the day lazing at LAX the red-tailed Dreamliner will be wheels up at 11.35pm every evening bar Tuesday, for a 10.10am arrival into Melbourne.

Tickets for the Boeing 787 flight go on sale December 25, 2016 with travellers will be able to book into 42 business class, 28 premium economy and 166 economy class seats on the advanced jet, which provides a smoother ride and vastly reduces the effects of jetlag due to lower effective cabin altitude and higher humidity levels.

The business class seats (above) are based on Qantas' Airbus A330 Business Suite, but with a sliding panel between the paired middle seats which passengers can pull up for privacy or push down for sociability.

Qantas expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 in mid-October 2017, with a second slated for early December.

Domestic Boeing 787 flights in November 

But you won't need to fly all the way to LA to experience the Dreamliner, with the factory-fresh jet also being scheduled on a series of domestic runs from November, prior to beginning its international duty.

The east coast 'triangle' routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are likely to see the Boeing 787, along with the longer transcontinental trek between these cities and Perth.

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

30 Jul 2015

Total posts 135

on the website qantas says the flight will run 6 times a week, i guess qantas will have 2 787's by the time they start doing it as its impossible to fly 6 times a week with just one airplane on a route like that. 

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2560

As the article notes, Qantas expects to have two 787s in the hangar by the start of December.

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1029

This isn't so much as a "replacement" of the 747 MEL-LAX flights as a resumption.
The current twice weekly QF95/96 is being dropped soon to use the aircraft for MEL-HKG.

20 May 2014

Total posts 79

I'd be interested to see whether they're going to reveal their "revolutionary" premium economy product before these tickets go on sale.  How much would one be able to divine from the seat map, if and when that goes live along with the ticket sales?

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2560

Not much, the seatmap will likely show only what we already know, which is that it's 28 seats in four rows of 2-3-2... that said, if the seats show any type of angle or staggering, that'll be a hint as to what makes them so 'revolutionary'. :)

30 Jul 2015

Total posts 135

it would be pretty interesting if the premium economy suits are revealed to be angle lie-flat beds

31 Mar 2016

Total posts 619

On QF's upcoming 789, it would be financially suicidal if the new PY is a 'suite' style product and/or have angle lie-flat seat design.


Although a dream design for most pax/readers here @ PY fare level, such a product would instantly remove a large chunk of demand for J and as a result, QF's justifications to invest heavily in J suite product across fleet.

31 Mar 2014

Total posts 397

I tend to disagree. A 2-3-2 angle flat would be a true incentive to pay more from economy on such long flights. However would be a true downgrade from a 1-2-1 lie flat suite.  

There is also the "revolutionary" tag that AJ keeps touting. Anything that is still a recliner couldn't be claimed as revolutionary 

19 Nov 2012

Total posts 44

Launch will be Feb/March 17

QFF

12 Apr 2013

Total posts 1564

My bet that there will be no award seats in J class on 787. Even one year ahead. Business as usual.

03 Aug 2015

Total posts 58

Will this continue to operate when PER-LHR begins? When are the the 3 and 4th dreamlines due to be delivered? 

03 Aug 2015

Total posts 58

To answer my own Question, Yes according to Qantas facebook team 

07 Oct 2012

Total posts 1251

I'd be surprised if the QF facebook team is correct. QF has reduced and I believe is removing the extra B747 services from MEL to LAX except for seasonal peak services. Given VA's impending return to MEL-LAX, there may be too much capacity for QF to operate an additional (albeit 787) service on a year round basis without impacting yields. Any extra year round flights to the US from Melbourne will surely have to go to DFW.

05 May 2016

Total posts 616

The 787 has less capacity than the 747 albeit QANTAS is proposing more 787 services than there have been 747 ones. If the demand isn't there all year round then some 787 services could be seasonal I guess.

07 Oct 2012

Total posts 1251

Yep, well as log0008 has reported, QF has definitely said this will be year round (so the facebook team isn't incorrect... my bad). But I would remain surprised if QF didn't use the chance to open up a MEL-DFW route.... even if it was 3 x MEL-LAX and 3-4 MEL-DFW.


Then again QF needs to desperately retire the 2 non-refurbished 747's. So BNE-LAX or SYD-SFO should be replaced with a 787.  

My back of the paper calculations think it's possible for MEL-PER-LHR-PER-MEL-LAX-MEL routing with a little over 4 birds. Which should leave enough 787's out of the first order to retire some 747's (well hopefully at least 2).

I flew SYD to JNB on the old 747. It def needs to go. Maybe they can replace this route with 787 or kick on to Cape Town.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

19 Feb 2014

Total posts 439

Really looking forward to trying this out on the trans-con services!

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1029

The first 2 QF 787s (line numbers 614 and 641) are currently having parts shipped to Everett for construction.
They are due for delivery on 12 Oct and 1 Dec 2017.

There are 128 787-9s with production slots assigned where the airline is not currently publicly known.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 Sep 2014

Total posts 84

They are no-where near the point of getting parts shipped. Final assembly at Everett will only begin 2-3 months before the delivery date.

12 Feb 2014

Total posts 228

Again I'm a bit surprised they didn't use the opportunity to shift some traffic via Dallas and provide Melbourne customers with more choice of destination. 

03 Aug 2015

Total posts 58

I wouldn't be surprised if this became MEL-DFW down the line

31 Mar 2016

Total posts 619

@log0008:

"I wouldn't be surprised if this became MEL-DFW down the line"
Partially agree.  MEL-DFW will eventually be launched by QF now that AA+QF JV is history.  And the only econ-logical machine in QF fleet to launch that route will be 789.

However, I don't think MEL-LAX by 789 will end to enable MEL-DFW by 789 to launch as what U've implied.  It'll be in addition to MEL-LAX.

MEL-LAX is @ least a seasonal 744 route and QF fleet plan is to replace all 744s(Not 744ERs which will remain critical for JNB & SCL ops until CASA embrace ETOPS330+) with 789.  And the most urgent current QF routes to swap out 744s are those high fuel consumption long Trans-Pcf routes.  As a result, I predict after MEL-LAX, QF will continue to deploy 789 on current 744 Trans-Pcf routes(i.e. SYD-SFO, BNE-LAX, SYD-YVR) before QF start to use 789 on new QF routes such as PER-LHR(Confirmed), MEL-DFW(May be), etc.

07 Oct 2012

Total posts 1251

747ER's are not required to fly to SCL/JNB. JNB regularly see 23 year old QF's 747's.


QF planned to be down to 9 747's by now. They also planned to finish A330 refurbishments by end of 2016. QF's plans change... alot! 

I would suggest that the MEL-LAX QF 787 may be in response to the QF/AA JV not being approved. Making it less attractive for AA to launch to MEL. I'd be very surprised if it remains 6 x weekly year round in the long term.

No doubt we will see more 787's take over some US routes, to enable some 747 retirements and redeployments to slot constrained ports like HKG.


QF

04 Apr 2014

Total posts 209

Putting aside operational considerations, from a customer perspective if you flew MEL-DFW the LAX-JFK flight would not be needed anymore.  DFW is a great AA hub, and despite the problem Qantas and American have had recently they're still part of OneWorld. 

05 May 2016

Total posts 616

I'd be surprised if QF stopped flying their own metal to JFK.

31 Mar 2016

Total posts 619

I'm totally not surprised that QF's 789 debut plan has not much to do with providing MEL(nor any other AU mkt) customers with more destination choices.  Later yes(e.g. PER-LHR) but not initially for the 1st batch of 789.


I believe it's has much more to do with getting rid of 744s as quickly as possible particularly on very long QF routes.  That's where the largest fuel burn savings per seat(even bigger diff if on per trip basis... I suspect trip fuel cost for 744 x1 is slightly more than for 789 x2) can be realized by swapping 744 with 789.  After all, 789 x8 to replace the oldest 744 x5 is exactly the official QF  789 deployment plan and I believe, the deployment priority.

03 Aug 2015

Total posts 58

The B744 freed up for this is going onto MEL-HKG daily, so they don't seem to be pushing to retire them. 

05 May 2016

Total posts 616

They may need a lot more 787s before they retire some 747s. It does depend what they want to do.

31 Mar 2016

Total posts 619

For me, the most intriguing aspects are these:
1) Why QF picked MEL-LAX to debut its 789 longhaul service?  Pre-empt potential move on the same route by AA which will no longer be a JV partner?
2) A yr fm now, both operators(i.e. QF and UA) will be using the same type on the same route.  QF really like the operating #s UA has been achieving fm 789 on this route? 
3) If debut 789 longhaul on a AU-Asia route instead, QF would only need 1 frame to maintain a daily rotation.  Too little demand for PY on such routes and therefore 330 cabin layout suffice for now?

I'm surprised that the article itself and no commentators hv mentioned nor discussed these aspects so far. 

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

12 Oct 2016

Total posts 4

Jetstar (and their 787's) are based in Melb, so makes sense for Qantas to base 787's in Melb (at least initially) too. As for why LAX, there are probably a few reasons such as freeing up 747's for higher capacity Asia routes, maintaining best hard product on the USA routes and better fuel economy for these long hauls.

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2560

We didn't delve into why Qantas chose Melbourne or why it didn't choose Asia because that's not our role. We're not an aviation website dealing in industry analysis and backstory; we're a business travel website reporting on what's relevant to our core readership.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

01 Mar 2013

Total posts 171

Absolutely! ...and don't change a thing David & Chris.

Will it still be a NZ crew operating this flight? Or are the AKL based crew going to be phased out?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Nov 2013

Total posts 475

The AKL crews operate across a wide range of mainline intl services. I sat next to a FA on SYD-AKL and she was dead-heading home after doing a SYD-JNB trip.


They're a pretty good bunch of folks...

Absolutely, AKL-based and London-based crew are fantastic! SYD-based old timers I find interesting...

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

22 Oct 2013

Total posts 5

When will Brisbane get some more routes from Qantas? Considering the airline began in QLD it would be nice to get more from Qantas. Maybe to Dallas or Chicago or even San Francisco.

31 Mar 2016

Total posts 619

I'm betting QF will deploy 789 on a CURRENT route fm BNE(Most likely BNE-LAX) well before QF will launch any new Trans-Pcf routes from BNE such as DFW, ORD or even SFO.....

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

12 Jun 2011

Total posts 148

BNE needs to be able to support decent yields first before they can introduce more services. QF aren't deliberately avoiding QLD, theres just clearly a better business case for somewhere else first.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 467

Suspect you'll see a BNE-DFW in the not too distant future.

09 Aug 2014

Total posts 17

Is it possible that QF are using the 789 to LAX out of MEL to see how the aircraft goes flying across the pacific with DFW in mind & making sure the numbers add up to make it a viable option. If yes, then splitting the flights out of Melbourne to both LAX & DFW

24 Aug 2011

Total posts 1205

I think QF would already know the 789 is very capable of doing this given UA has been using the 789 on the same route for over a year in a tighter configuration that that planned by QF.

So the 787 is being used to replace a 747 in this case. Good. 


I presume that freed-up 747s might end up being used as temporary A380 replacements for when the A380s get a product refresh.

07 Oct 2012

Total posts 1251

Noting that the current Q95/96 is a seasonal 747. If you check timetable for Feb for example it doesn't exist. So replacing this with a 787 is an additional service. Can't see it helping QF reduce 747's in the short term.

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1029

95/96 isn't seasonal.
It was added at 3 weekly in Jan 2015 when all the transpac flights were tweeked (adding a 4th SCL flight, retiming 11, changing 107/108 to 17/18 and forming the JFK tag from BNE).
It was reduced to 2 weekly at the start of this year to allow extra 73/74 flights.
It is being withdrawn at the end of January to allow QF29/30 to become daily 747.

31 Mar 2016

Total posts 619

@hutch:

"Noting that the current Q95/96 is a seasonal 747....so replacing this with a 787 is an additional service."
789 on MEL-LAX is likely BOTH a replacement for seasonal frequencies by 744 AND an addition for providing new frequencies off-season.  This is pax perspective.

Fm QF perspective, the beauty of this transition plan is that total annual seat capacity remains largely similar(i.e. not increasing overall seat supply by much so no downward pressure on fare in that mkt) while connectivity+schedule choices improve due to 2x daily yr-round.

"Can't see it helping QF reduce 747's in the short term."
The fact that 744s will disappear fm MEL-LAX seasonal alone  reduces 744 fleet overall utilization.

Each MEL-LAX round trip means a 744 is utilized for @ least 32hrs fm pushback @ MEL to return @ MEL gate.  That's longer utilization than for say, 1.5 roundtrips on MEL-HKG.  Essentially, each 744 utilized for MEL-LAX roundtrip x2 can generate MEL-HKG roundtrip x3.  Moreover, you will find that 744 for MEL-HKG is almost always non-daily(Typically only 3x wkly) and/or seasonal.  Finally, 744 is already being used for MEL-HKG...it's not waiting until 789 start to displace 744 on MEL-LAX.  Clearly, actual 744 fleet wide utilization will be reduced @ least slightly when 789 enter QF fleet.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

25 Feb 2016

Total posts 23

I wonder if they'll switch the LAX-JFK tag to use the 789 in place of the 744 from the BNE service?

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1029

While QF hasn't posted the flight times yet, using the 787 from this flight for JFK is unlikely as this will most likely be an afternoon flight, not the morning flight needed for the JFK tag.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 467

I'd suspect not. The 744 to and from JFK is often full or pretty close to it. A switch to the 787 would be a big drop in capacity.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

25 Feb 2016

Total posts 23

Interesting, I didn't know. I thought that flight was better suited to the A330 (and hence the 789) that used to fly it and they only upgraded to the 744 because the a330 stopped making the trek over.

28 Nov 2012

Total posts 93

MEL-LAX is only until March 2018 until PER-LHR starts

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2432

Hi Johnny, not sure what your source is to that claim, but the information we've received directly from Qantas doesn't suggest that Melbourne-LAX Boeing 787 flights will be replaced by Perth-London: they'll just use the same aircraft type, of which Qantas has multiple on order.

28 Nov 2012

Total posts 93

Hey Chris,So they will have more than 2 by March 2018?

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1029

There are 12 787-9s being built at Everett (and 11 more at Charleston) with unknown airlines assigned, due to be delivered after the 2nd QF aircraft in Dec and March.

QF could be getting some of those, or none of those. Until there is an update as to which line numbers are going to which airline, all we know is that QF will have 4 aircraft by June 2018.

31 Mar 2016

Total posts 619

@Himeno:

According to the latest updated 787 production plan, QF is scheduled to take delivery of 789 x3 before 1Jan2018.  1 on 12Oct17(Line# 615, the 1st ever 787 airframe for QF), 1 on 1Dec17(Airframe line# 641) and 1 on 31Dec17(Airframe  line# 655).  All 3 will be assembled @ the Everett line.

Fyi, the next 787 airframe delivery is Line# 508 for AirEuropa scheduled to occur 3days from now.

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1029

It's one of the slots that was listed as "unknown" airline when I checked it.

Possibly the 4th will be LN 666, 664 or 662 due late Jan-Mid Feb.

28 Nov 2012

Total posts 93

I see the Cozy suite for PE with 19-20" width with a recline into a cradle position with a fixed shell, cocktail table etc

gsx
gsx

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Aug 2015

Total posts 34

Think it time for a history lesson.

Mel- Lax has been the launch route for the 1st 747ER then the first A380 route now it will the same for the next gen long haul aircraft the 787.

but I agree a MEL - DFW would be nice too in the long run

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Jul 2016

Total posts 106

I really hope they do BNE-DXB with those free 747s and A380s, although unlikely since Emirates has a lot of there own seats there. Well just a wish a guess.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Jul 2016

Total posts 106

Sorry, last sentence meant to say 'well just a wish I guess'

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1427

For my crystal ball by early 2019 QF well have London (2), Paris (1), and Frankfurt (1) flying all through Perth with 787s. They may increase the order to have 12 787s by then so they can serve LA and Dallas as well, all out of Melbourne. The A380s will all be based in Sydney with a London flight probably through Dubai but possibly through Singapore, as well as Singapore and Hong Kong stand alones. They will then in 2019 or 2020 order some 787-10s for Asia and phase out the A333s 

18 Nov 2015

Total posts 117

The current Sky Bed on the 747 and A380 is horrific.  There's no personal space, the bed itself is uncomfortable and saggy, and you have to stow your screen for take off and landing.  Let's hope the Sky Bed goes away very soon and replaced with the new J class we see on the 787.

gsx
gsx

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Aug 2015

Total posts 34

Does anyone know what happened to the 787 launch bookings today ? 

The online site does not go past Dec13 for timetables and bookings. I was hoping to see what fares were being offered

gsx
gsx

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Aug 2015

Total posts 34

also the 747 is still listed to fly mel-lax twice a week  till mid July 2017 in the online timetables.. then it disappears altogether.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

26 May 2014

Total posts 465

Curious that QF news release said the 787 MEL-LAX fares would go on sales on 25/12 for 15/12 when this is earlier than the normal 353 days in advance. Maybe tomorrow.

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2560

Yes, Qantas told us on Dec 22nd that it expected tickets on sale the following day but while these have in theory been loaded into the system, the airline's own sales system doesn't stretch a full 365 days in advance – today you can book MEL-LAX for Dec 14 2017, so it's likely that tomorrow (Dec 27th) you'll be able to book for Dec 15th 2017, which is the in augural MEL-LAX Boeing 787 flight.

gsx
gsx

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Aug 2015

Total posts 34

Yes sounds like Qantas Marketing in the rush to announce this first flight  didn't think this one through as you will only be able to book one-way as the return flights are also only 353 days ahead in the booking system..

so much for official press releases. It would be nice to see an explanation from them on the press statement.


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