Australian flag carrier Qantas returned to Santiago de Chile this Sunday with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The service was suspended previously due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service departed one of Qantas’ main hubs, Sydney, bound for Santiago de Chile at 13:06 local time and is due into Santiago at 10:49 local time. The route is being carried out by one of Qantas’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. VH-ZNJ is the aircraft of choice. This aircraft is currently painted in the beautiful Qantas100 livery celebrating 100 years of Qantas airlines.
This isn’t the only service between the two cities. Currently, the South American airline LATAM flies regular service with a stop in Auckland, New Zealand. LA801 flies the first leg of the trip to Auckland, which lasts roughly 12 hours. Then, LA801 flies between Auckland and Sydney, which lasts approximately two hours.
The announcement of the resumption of the service came back in May of this year. QF27 will be flown four times weekly. Thanks to the International Date Line, you can depart Sydney and arrive in Santiago on the same day!
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Qantas Sydney to Santiago route was flown by the Queen Of The Skies: Boeing 747. However, the type’s retirement meant that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner had to take its place.
Back in 2020, VH-OEE, a Qantas Boeing 747-400ER, flew QF28 from Santiago de Chile to Sydney. Due to the ongoing concerns of the pandemic, it was believed that this was the last ever flight of the type. So, to mark the occasion, it did a low pass over Sydney Harbour at 2,100ft – a beautiful sight for all.
However, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a fantastic plane that dramatically benefits the Qantas fleet. Although this may be, the Dreamliner doesn’t offer WiFi onboard.
A travelers dream
A promotional video published by Aeropuerto de Santiago lays out all the right reasons for traveling to Chile. It showcases all the stunning landscape and biodiversity Chile, and Santiago de Chile has to offer.
Chile is currently the world’s most romantic and best destination in South America. Also, Chile presently has seven World Heritage Sites. There is definitely something for everyone.
Qantas is back in form
With the COVID-19 pandemic well and truly behind it, Qantas is looking to a bright future ahead. The airline is reconnecting Australia with its expansive network. The increased connectivity will no doubt bring benefits to tourism in Australia.
Earlier this year, Simple Flying reported giving Project Sunrise the green light and adding some Airbus A350-1000s to its fleet. To add to this, the airline was cash-flow positive during the first couple of months of this year, with CEO Alan Joyce saying:
“Our strategy has been to restructure the business so we could survive the pandemic and then recover quickly when travel normalized. That’s why reducing costs was absolutely crucial. We’re seeing the benefits of that strategy now, and it gives us the confidence to make the long-term investment decisions that are key to future growth and shareholder value.”
What do you think of the resumption of services? Have you flown this route on the 747? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: aviacionline.com
Source: simpleflying.com
