Qantas has returned to San Francisco and their San Francisco-Sydney services will ramp up to six services per week in January 2016. All flights will be operated by a Boeing 747-400 aircraft with the same style interiors that feature on the airline’s flagship A380s, enabling customers to experience the best of Australia in each of its Economy, Premium Economy and flagship Business Class cabins.
Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce, said Qantas has a special relationship with San Francisco.
“We’re thrilled to be back in San Francisco, which was Qantas’ first ever US destination back in the 1950s and is still a hugely popular holiday spot for Australians. What’s different today is that we’re seeing really strong demand for business travel as well, driven by the Silicon Valley technology boom,” said Mr. Joyce.
“The cabin, food, service and in-flight entertainment we’re offering on this route has evolved significantly over the past four years, and we look forward to welcoming more Americans on board to experience Qantas,” added Mr. Joyce.
A special menu has been designed for the route with customers in Business and Premium Economy enjoying a Ricotta, pea and prosciutto calzone. The dish is inspired by Chef Alice Waters from the San Francisco restaurant, Chez Panisse, which shares Qantas’ food philosophy in striving for sustainable produce and focusing on dishes showcasing the season’s best ingredients. Business customers traveling to and from San Francisco will also be the first to experience Qantas’ new Kate Spade and Jack Spade amenity kits.
The new service has been made possible by an expanded commercial partnership between Qantas, Australia’s national carrier, and American, the world’s biggest airline, to form part of a broader trans-Pacific network spanning Australian, New Zealand and the United States.
Qantas San Francisco History
Qantas operated its first Trans-Pacific service in May 1954 flying a Super Constellation from Sydney to San Francisco (and onward to Vancouver) via Nadi, Canton Island and Honolulu. Qantas operated its first Trans-Pacific Jet Service in July 1959 flying a B707 from San Francisco to Sydney via Nadi and Honolulu. San Francisco is the top onward destination for Qantas corporate customers beyond the airline’s existing network. On July 29th, 1959, a Qantas Boeing 707 jet departed Sydney for San Francisco via Fiji and Hawaii to begin the first passenger jet services across the Pacific Ocean. Following the arrival of t QF73, Qantas gifted an original program from the ceremony of its inaugural 1959 Sydney-San Francisco service to the San Francisco Aviation Museum and Library.
To mark the new service Qantas is offering special fares from San Francisco to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia for a range of travel dates in 2016. If you book prior to December 22, 2015 rates start at $999 for economy, $2,999 for premium economy, and $4,999 for business class.
Qantas, www.qantas.com
