Singapore Airlines and Qantas Launch New A380 Routes

Posted 17/01/2012

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Qantas have expanded their Airbus A380 networks during the past couple of days as the arrival of additional aircraft have enabled them to introduce the Superjumbo on further routes. 

SIA is now using the type on its route from Singapore Changi to New York JFK via Frankfurt.  The aircraft replaced a Boeing 747-400 on the daily rotation from January 16, 2012 representing a 25 per cent increase in capacity on the route.  Frankfurt and New York are SIA’s ninth and tenth destinations to be served by the A380, which already includes destinations in both Europe - London, Paris and Zurich – and North America - Los Angeles.

The airline was the launch customer for the A380, introducing the type into service in October 2007, and it now has an operational fleet of 15 aircraft with four more on order.  It says it has carried more than six million passengers on A380 flights over the subsequent four-plus years.

Meanwhile, Qantas has launched A380 services to Hong Kong, its fourth destination to be served using the type.  The airline’s inaugural flight operated between Sydney and Hong Kong on January 15, 2012, arriving back in the Australian city the following day.  The A380 is currently being used on four of the eleven rotations Qantas offers on this route each week.

The Australian carrier now operates 12 A380s and the arrival of two aircraft late last year has supported the introduction of the Super Jumbo to Hong Kong as well as on additional flights between Melbourne and London (via Singapore) – up from six flights per week to daily – and between Melbourne and Los Angeles, up from four flights per week to daily. 

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