Australian national airline Qantas has revealed a plan to deploy four of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft at its base in Brisbane.

The deployment is expected to create 470 new jobs and open up new potential international flight routes.

The first of the four aircraft is set to arrive next year. All four Brisbane-based Dreamliners are scheduled to be in place by the end of next year.

The aircraft are part of an order placed by Qantas for eight Dreamliners. Delivery of the first aircraft of the order is scheduled to be completed by October.

“Queensland is the birthplace of Qantas and it’s fitting that we will base four of our Dreamliners in the state."

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “Queensland is the birthplace of Qantas and it’s fitting that we will base four of our Dreamliners in the state.

“The 787 offers a step-change for customers in terms of comfort and efficiency and we are pleased Queenslanders will be able to experience them directly from Brisbane.

“Each aircraft we base in Brisbane brings new jobs. 120 of our Dreamliner cabin crew and pilots will be based in the city, with many choosing to settle in the state. A further 350 indirect jobs are expected to be created as a result.”

The new Dreamliners will initially be placed on routes currently served by Qantas’ 747 aircraft.

With the new aircraft, the airline aims to add non-stop destinations such as Seattle, Chicago and San Francisco, US; Vancouver, Canada; and Asia, from Brisbane.

Qantas recently completed reconfiguring its A330 fleet at its Brisbane hangar.

The airline is also installing Wi-Fi on a number of its 737 and A330 domestic aircraft fleet at its Brisbane base.


Image: A Qantas aircraft in the air. Photo: courtesy of Qantas Airways.