Samoan Aviation specialist lands Boeing Dreamliner hub for Queensland

03 September 2017, 12:00AM

This team was led by Leata Alaimoana, Special Projects Manager - Aviation & Aerospace for Industry Attraction, Queensland Government.

Qantas yesterday announced that four 787-9 Dreamliners will be based in Brisbane, bringing 470 new jobs and opening up new potential international routes.

The first of eight Dreamliners ordered by the national carrier will be delivered from Boeing in late October this year, and the first to be based in Brisbane will arrive in mid-2018. All four Brisbane-based aircraft will be in place by the end of 2018.

Qantas Group C.E.O, Alan Joyce, said basing four of the airline’s Dreamliners in Brisbane will help drive international tourism into the state over the long term.

“Queensland is the birthplace of Qantas and it’s fitting that we will base four of our Dreamliners in the state. The 787 offers a step-change for customers in terms of comfort and efficiency and we are pleased Queenslanders will be able to experience them direct from Brisbane."

“Each aircraft we base in Brisbane brings new jobs. One hundred and twenty of our Dreamliner cabin crew and pilots will be based in the city, with many choosing to settle in the state. A further 350 indirect jobs are expected to be created as a result."

“We’ve said that initially our Dreamliners will replace the routes that our older 747 fly but there are also new destinations we are looking at given the capability of the aircraft. A range of exciting options is on the table that will help drive tourism to the state and we look forward to making that decision in coming months."

“I’d like to acknowledge the support of the Queensland Government, Brisbane Airport Corporation and Tourism Australia for helping to make our Brisbane Dreamliner base a reality,” said Mr. Joyce." 

This team was led by Leata Alaimoana, Special Projects Manager - Aviation & Aerospace for Industry Attraction, Queensland Government.

From Brisbane, the Qantas Dreamliner is capable of flying non-stop to destinations such as Seattle, Chicago and San Francisco in the United States, Vancouver in Canada, as well as Asia.

Qantas operates 58 return, direct international services each week from Brisbane to Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Noumea, Port Moresby, Singapore and Tokyo. The airline also operates more than 620 return services from Brisbane per week to 25 destinations across its domestic network and more than 390 return services per week to 20 destinations within Queensland.

 

03 September 2017, 12:00AM

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