QANTAS’S Airbus A380 superjumbo is finally in business as the airline’s debut commercial flight to Los Angeles takes off from Melbourne.

The inaugural A380 service left Melbourne at 11.15 AEDT, and is scheduled to land in Los Angeles at 7.30am local time (1.30am Tuesday AEDT), where it will receive a star-studded welcome from Qantas Ambassador John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Qantas boss Geoff Dixon said Qantas’ decision to fly its first commercial service to the US was a mark of its commitment to growing the trans-Pacific market.

"We have operated air services between Australia and the United States since 1954 and have invested significantly over our 54 years of operation to develop these routes

"Today, we offer 47 services a week to the US, plus daily extensions to New York. In fact, we offer more services to the USA than any other international market with the exception of New Zealand," he said. Qantas will follow the Melbourne-Los Angeles inaugural A380 service with its first Sydney-Los Angeles service on Friday, October 24.

Qantas’s A380 will go head to head with Singapore Airlines’ A380 service on the Sydney-Singapore-London route from January, with the airline expecting at least three more A380 deliveries before Christmas. Qantas will have eight A380 services by the end of 2009 and its 20-strong order would be delivered by the end of 2013.

"By the end of 2009, when our eighth aircraft has been delivered, Qantas will offer daily A380 services to Los Angeles from Melbourne," said Mr Dixon. Qantas is the third airline to offer an A380 service. Dubai-based Emirates received its first A380 in July and quickly started a commercial service to New York.

The Qantas A380 seats 450 passengers in four classes, with features including state-of-the-art entertainment systems, a business class lounge, and several stand-up bars. Fourteen first-class and 332 economy seats are located on the main deck, with 72 business and 32 premium economy seats on the second level. The hype surrounding the world’s biggest commercial carrier continues after hundreds turned out to watch the first Australian A380 arrive at Sydney Airport on September 21.

Qantas conducted a low-level flight over Sydney Harbour to introduce the jet to its customers after a successful flight from Toulouse, France, via Singapore. The historic landing saw over 3000 Qantas employees gathered in a hanger to welcome its crew, led by Captain Peter Probert, whose father brought the first Boeing 747 into Australia in 1971.

source: www.news.com.au