iscover
A pair of chartered Qantas A380s has carried two American football teams to Melbourne.
VH-OQD flew the San Francisco 49ers on 2 September, with VH-OQH carrying the Los Angeles Rams on 8 September ahead of the clash on Friday between the two California teams at the MCG, the first time a regular-season match has been played in Australia.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“Australians love major sporting events and there is enormous excitement as Melbourne prepares to host one of the biggest sporting events in the world,” said Qantas Group chief brand and corporate affairs officer Danielle Keighery.
“As Official Airline Partner of the NFL in Australia and New Zealand, our teams have spent months working with the clubs to make the flight part of the experience, from menus designed alongside team nutrition staff to bespoke Qantas pyjamas in each club’s colours.
“For many of the athletes and staff this is their first visit to Australia and we wanted to give them a taste of the country from the moment they stepped on board.
“We are already seeing that excitement in our bookings, with numbers from the United States up 50 per cent in the lead-up to the game and fans travelling to Melbourne from right across Australia and New Zealand. We are proud to have played a role in bringing this historic game to the MCG.”
Four pilots, 22 crew and one charter manager were on board each flight, along with over 20 tonnes of equipment and 2,000 catered meals between them.
“Catering was built around what an NFL team eats, with menus developed alongside each team’s nutrition staff and more protein loaded than almost any other Qantas flight,” the airline said.
“Steak sandwiches came with extra steak, along with double portions of cheeseburgers, other meats and sides.”
NFL general manager for Australia and New Zealand, Charlotte Offord, said the league was “incredibly proud” to have Qantas sponsor the Melbourne game.
“As the NFL’s official airline in Australia, Qantas has played a vital role in helping bring the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers to Melbourne, as well as ensuring it was a seamless journey for all of our fans travelling to the game,” she said.
Qantas says it has seen demand into Melbourne increase by 50 per cent from the United States year-on-year in the lead-up to the game, as well as 30 per cent from New Zealand and 10 per cent overall.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
