Qantas is concluding its era of operating the Airbus A380 superjumbo from Melbourne Airport. The final scheduled flight, QF94, will arrive in Melbourne on Saturday, October 24, before departing for Los Angeles later that same day. No further A380 services are planned from the Victorian hub after this date.
From October 25, the airline will exclusively operate the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Melbourne to Los Angeles route. This transition marks the end of an 18-year history for the double-decker aircraft at the airport, which began with the first scheduled A380 service on October 20, 2008.
Capacity and Class Changes on the LAX Route
The switch from the A380 to the 787-9 represents a significant reduction in available seating. The A380 typically carries 485 passengers, while the 787-9 accommodates 236. This change results in 498 fewer round-trip seats available on the 6,883 nautical mile journey.
Qantas will also remove first class from the Melbourne to Los Angeles service. The number of business class seats will decrease by 16 percent, premium economy by 25 percent, and economy class by 23 percent. Consequently, business class will account for nearly 18 percent of the total capacity on the new configuration.
The 787-9 will operate daily on this route, replacing the previous twice-weekly A380 schedule. This adjustment aligns with Qantas’s broader strategy to phase out its aging A380 fleet, which currently consists of ten aircraft averaging 17.1 years in age.
Historical Context and Future Routing
Melbourne Airport has seen various A380 operations over the years, including regular services to London Heathrow via Dubai and Singapore, as well as occasional one-off flights to Tokyo Narita. The airline previously operated direct A380 flights to London Heathrow between 2010 and 2018 before switching to the 787-9 with a stop in Perth.
While the A380 is departing Melbourne, it remains a key aircraft for Qantas at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. The airline will continue to operate its remaining superjumbos from Sydney, where the type has a longer operational history.
Other carriers will continue to serve Melbourne with the A380. Emirates maintains two daily services to Melbourne, and Singapore Airlines resumed daily A380 flights in March 2026. These airlines ensure that the superjumbo remains a visible presence at the airport, even as Qantas exits the market.
The final A380 departure from Melbourne on October 24 closes a chapter for the airline’s long-haul operations in Victoria. Passengers traveling to Los Angeles will need to adjust to the smaller 787-9 aircraft and the revised cabin layout starting next week.
Source: Simple Flying
