Qantas is to operate a new Airbus A380 superjumbo from Sydney to London later today.
It has been delivered as part of 20-aircraft order that continues in the wake of the grounding of part of its fleet following an engine explosion last month.
The new aircraft, equipped with Roll-Royce engines, is scheduled to depart for London via Singapore. Qantas already has three of its previously grounded fleet of A380s back in the air.
The latest delivery brings the number in service to four and total number in its fleet to seven. “We’ll have a fifth in service before Christmas and that will be coming back from maintenance,” a spokeswoman said.
Another A380 is expected to be delivered shortly, but the she declined to specify whether it will be available before the end of the year.