Qantas will start Boeing 787-9 services from Melbourne to San Francisco from September 1 while reducing its Melbourne-Los Angeles Dreamliner flights from six to two services per week.
The San Francisco fares went on sale Friday and the airline will operate the overnight flights four times a week.
The flights are aimed at holiday-makers and corporate travellers from The San Francisco area’s globally-renowned technology centres.
The airline’s website showed sale fares starting at $A1098 return.
Qantas International CEO Alison Webster said the new nonstop Dreamliner service reflected strong demand in travel to the popular Californian city.
“We expect this flight to be popular with tourists and also corporate travellers looking to do business with San Francisco’s world-leading technology companies,’’ she said in a statement.
“With connections to 17 codeshare destinations including Chicago, Seattle, and Vancouver, the new service also provides another gateway for Australians travelling into the US.’’
The airline said customers affected by the decision to reduce the Melbourne-Lax services would be re-accommodated on other flights. It will continue to operate daily A380 flights between the two cities.
The 236-seat Qantas 787s come with refreshed business, premium economy and economy class offerings.
There are 42 in business class with a 1-2-1 formation, 28 in premium economy in a 2-3-2 layout and 166 in economy in a 3-3-3 configuration.
Qantas is due to start historic B787 non-stop services between Perth and London in March.
It announced earlier this week that it would again take aboriginal art international after its fourth Dreamliner is delivered in March sporting a special indigenous livery.
The artwork is due to be unveiled when the aircraft is completed next month and the 787 will be the second flying art aircraft in service and the only one dedicated to international flights.
The airline’s tradition of decorating iaircraft with Aboriginal art started in the 1990’s with a head-turning Boeing 747-400 called Wunala Dreaming.
