End of an Era? QF ends A380 operations ex MEL 24 October 2026

[Quickstatus]

MEL-LAX QF93 Saturday A380 service appears to end after 24 October 2026 according to the QF timetables and replaced by 7 days a week 787-9

If true, that potentially means no QFi F cabin ex MEL, until such time as QF brings Project Sunrise to MEL whenever that is.
The A380 fleet will be exclusively SYD based
The only A380 servicing MEL after 24 Oct will be EK and SQ

Question: When did QF first start an A380 service in MEL?

 

[lovestotravel]

Inaugural Flight: Operated - Operated by aircraft VH-OQA (Nancy-Bird Walton) on October 20, 2008 (Flight QF93)

So just over 18 years

 

[dajop]

Is this the first time they've ceased A380 operations from MEL during regular operations (i.e. outside of COVID). QF93 reverted to 787's for a while during 2022, with the evening departure allowing the QF10->QF93 rotation on the 787 as it will now, but IIRC they might have had a once or twice a week A380 daytime service as well? Or no A380's then either?

 

[eminere]

Sad. I have fond memories of flying SYD-MEL-SIN and vv on the A380.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

If true, that potentially means no QFi F cabin ex MEL, until such time as QF brings Project Sunrise to MEL whenever that is.

Seriously? If that’s the case I am with the Shark

 

[defurax]

Only Oneworld F cabin ex-MEL will be BA from January 2027.

 

[AuSammy]

While it is a loss for Melbourne, for such a small and aging sub-fleet it probably makes sound business sense to reduce to a smaller set of city pairs for logistics staffing and recovery for IIROPS

It’s sad the demise of A380s generally with most carriers, my fav plane.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Since New Zealand is expressly mentioned in clause 6 of our (Australian) Constitution, I am excluding trans-Tasman flights from my definition of international services. Even after doing that, while Qantas comfortably leads the field Singapore Airlines’ presence is remarkably strong for a foreign carrier and should be somewhat embarrassing for Qantas.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Seriously? If that’s the case I am with the Shark

Cruiser the Shark has adopted Spruce’s lead.

Personally, when I am paying for discretionary long-haul travel north of Australia, Emirates is now my preferred airline. Their choice of food, booze, connectivity and entertainment leaves QF in the rear vison mirror.

Sunrise - why go direct when you can connect.

 

[dajop]

Also worth noting that QF probably struggles on LAX compared to say 10-15 years when MEL-LAX supported onwards traffic across the US, including to JFK on QF metal. Now MEL-DFW does some of that heavy lifting and the hub for JFK flights is AKL not LAX. ‘Not surprising that A380 is difficult to fill. Combined that with the operational efficiencies and providing a competitive PER-LAX proposition though QF9/10 the move seems to be sensible.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Also worth noting that QF probably struggles on LAX compared to say 10-15 years when MEL-LAX supported onwards traffic across the US, including to JFK on QF metal. Now MEL-DFW does some of that heavy lifting and the hub for JFK flights is AKL not LAX. ‘Not surprising that A380 is difficult to fill. Combined that with the operational efficiencies and providing a competitive PER-LAX proposition though QF9/10 the move seems to be sensible.

Yes, I largely agree with your analysis (sans the commercial numbers), but your final point has lost me. QF9/QF10 operates Melbourne to Perth to London, not Perth to Los Angeles, so I cannot see how it supports a competitive PER-LAX proposition. What connection are you drawing there?

 

[dajop]

Yes, I largely agree with your analysis (sans the commercial numbers), but your final point has lost me. QF9/QF10 operates Melbourne to Perth to London, not Perth to Los Angeles, so I cannot see how it supports a competitive PER-LAX proposition. What connection are you drawing there?

It supports it in the easterly direction as the aircraft used for QF10 PER-MEL goes on to form QF93 LAX-MEL with 2:15 in MEL meaning PER pax can do an I-I connection. Doesn’t work in the other direction though, due to long connection from QF94 to QF9 even when it recommences non stops PER-LHR.