Qantas puts A380s back on LA route

Qantas will resume A380 services between Australia and Los Angeles on Sunday, starting with QF93 flying from Melbourne to LA.

The aircraft has been suspended for two months after a mid-air engine explosion.

Qantas resumed limited A380 flights to London in late November, but delayed restoring A380 flights on the Los Angeles-Australia routes that regularly require the use of maximum engine thrust.

In a statement, the airline said that after extensive engineering analysis and close consultation, Qantas, Rolls Royce and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority were satisfied that it was appropriate for Qantas to resume A380 flying on the Los Angeles-Australia routes.

Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, said the decision would see Qantas continue the progressive reintroduction of A380s to its network.

-¬---In close consultation with Rolls-Royce, we are now confident that we can begin flying the A380 to and from Los Angeles without any conditions on the use of maximum engine thrust.

-¬---In the meantime, our A380 engine inspection process continues as we gradually restore the aircraft to our international network.-¬~

By TravelMole Australia

Tuesday, January 11, 2011