Qantas Airbus A380 lands at LAX today
It’s a big day at Los Angeles International Airport today. Qantas Airbus A380 landed at LAX on Runway 25L in the South Airfield at 7:26 a.m., becoming the first commercial A380 flight to Los Angeles.
It will head over to Tom Bradley International Terminal for arrival procedures. As for marking the momentous occasion, there will be a celeb-studded welcoming party at the Flight Path Learning Center at the LAX Imperial Terminal (not open to the public).
Featured speakers are set to include John Travolta, Qantas Airways’ global goodwill ambassador; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; and Qantas Chief Executive Geoff Dixon. Qantas ambassador Olivia Newton-John will also be there with other Qantas dignitaries and Los Angeles City Council members.
Catch up on the Airbus A380: Check out this photo gallery, called “Innovation Aboard the Airbus A380.”
Assistant LAT Travel Editor, Jane Engle, checked out the A380 last November. Here are her initial impressions: All quiet on the Airbus A380
For the scoop on A380 seating arrangements and in-flight amenities, see Jane’s subsequent post, from Dec. 1: Qantas to sell A380 seats soon
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
[Photo: Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times]
6 Comments on “Qantas Airbus A380 lands at LAX today”
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October 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Congratulations to Oceanic Ailines, wishing flight 815 all the success in the world.
October 20th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I was at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne and watched this big big take off on it’s maiden commercial flight to LA - what a sight to behold. This aircraft will change the way we see air travel for ever. I doubt even the Boeing will have an answer for this for years to come.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Boeing does not want to compete with the A380. If Boeing thought the future was bigger, they would have done the A380 first.
The future is cheaper, shorter flights to more destinations, not something the A380 can do. The A380 will be a commercial flop in the western airline passenger market. Look for the Asia/mid eastern market and freight-hauling variant for the A380 niche.
The Boeing 787 and smaller Airbus planes will be the real market performers.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Sorry CA, but the A380 will work fine for isolated countries like Australia. Qantas currently operates 37 flights from the East Coast of Australia to LA every week, UA some 14 flights. Thats over 50 flights! Why would you use anything smaller and less economical?
Now don’t be jealous just because Boeing didn’t have the foresight to do this!
October 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Contrar to what anyone says, capacity is not the issue here, supply and demand dictate that people choose to fly at certain times and others not. Now, if they are forced into taking up a later flight because all the flights are consolidated into a single one is another story. Look at the domestic market, why doesn’t Southwest fly one A380 from say Burbank to San Francisco once a day? Besides not being able to fly into an airport like the size of BUR, passengers like the convenience of being able to catch a different flight every hour. In my summation, Airbus captures the long haul Int’l routes with this giant, Boeing wins on regional travel. Both win-win in my opinion.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 am
I agree with Dominic.
They both win. Airlines that will find the A380 useful for their needs will utilise them and the ones that find the 787 useful will fly them. Some have chosen both and other have not chosen either one. “The A380 will be a commercial flop in the western airline passenger market?” Maybe so, but it is only because in the western/American market mindset,it’s not American made and therefore is look upon as not worthy of success. So far, however, it is proving to be quite successful in other markets. I wish them both success.