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Qantas Upgrades DFW Flights To Airbus A380

GRAPEVINE (CBSDFW.COM) - The longest commercial flight in the world will soon take place on the largest passenger jet in the world.

Qantas Airways announced Wednesday that its DFW-to-Sydney flight will use the Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft. The route first started three years ago, and brings more than 50,000 Australians to North Texas each year. The larger plane will begin serving this route on September 29 of this year.

"The announcement of Qantas Airways A380 service to DFW is outstanding news for our airport and the Dallas/Fort Worth region," stated Sean Donohue, CEO of DFW International Airport. "It adds more seats to what has become a very popular and important route."

The service will operate six flights each week between DFW and Sydney (one flight each day, except for Tuesdays). The new jets will increase the number of seats on this route by 10 percent each week.

Qantas Airways CEO Alan Joyce said that DFW is the perfect destination for Australians visiting the United States. "Dallas/Fort Worth," Joyce added, "is conveniently located less than four hours from every major U.S. city including Orlando, Boston, Houston and LaGuardia, making it a perfect hub for our customers."

With this move, DFW International Airport will soon be hosting Airbus A380 flights from two carriers -- the other being Emirates Airline. Those flights will depart from gates D15 and D16, with minor terminal modifications being made to accomodate the increased traffic on the airfield, on the taxiways, and on the ramps.

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