Qantas is preparing to end its Airbus A380 service between Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) next month, bringing one of the longest superjumbo routes in its network to a close. The Australian flag carrier plans to replace the double-decker aircraft with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with the final A380 operation scheduled for October 24.
The change will significantly alter Qantas’ presence in the United States. Once the Melbourne service ends, the airline’s only remaining A380 flights to the US will operate from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), while Melbourne will continue to retain a daily nonstop connection with Los Angeles using the smaller 787-9.
The Melbourne–Los Angeles route is notable because of its length and the role the A380 has played on it. At roughly 7,927 network miles, it is currently the second-longest A380 route in Qantas’ network, behind Sydney–Dallas/Fort Worth, and ranks among the longest A380 services anywhere in the world.
Qantas Melbourne–Los Angeles A380 Flights End in October
Qantas is scheduled to transition the route to the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from October 25, although the final A380 flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles is set for October 24. The replacement aircraft will operate the route daily in both directions, preserving a nonstop service between the two cities despite the equipment change.
The new schedule centers on QF93 from Melbourne and QF94 from Los Angeles. QF93 is scheduled to depart Melbourne at 11:15 p.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 6:40 p.m. the same day, while the westbound return, QF94, leaves LAX at 10:50 p.m. and reaches Melbourne at 9:30 a.m. two days later.
For passengers, the most important change is therefore not the loss of the nonstop connection, but the reduction in aircraft size and capacity. The 787-9 offers a substantially different cabin experience from the A380, particularly because Qantas’ superjumbo is currently the only aircraft in its fleet equipped with a First Class cabin.
Why Qantas Is Replacing the A380 With a 787-9
The decision appears closely connected to changes in demand by cabin. Qantas has maintained relatively strong overall load factors on the Melbourne–Los Angeles market, averaging around 80% over the past four years, but economy-class demand has softened while premium and business demand has remained steadier.
That makes the 787-9 a logical capacity adjustment for the route. Rather than continuing to operate a very large four-class superjumbo when fewer economy seats are required, Qantas can deploy a smaller long-haul aircraft while retaining substantial premium capacity.
Passenger figures show that the route has recovered strongly since the pandemic. Qantas carried more than 120,000 passengers in 2022, approximately 138,000 in 2023, and more than 172,000 in each of 2024 and 2025, counting both directions. The figures indicate that the Melbourne–Los Angeles market remains substantial even as the preferred aircraft changes.
Melbourne Remains a Major Qantas International Hub
The A380 withdrawal does not represent Qantas abandoning long-haul international flying from Melbourne. The airport remains the airline’s second-largest base after Sydney and handled more than 36 million passengers during 2025.
Qantas continues to operate international services from Melbourne to destinations including Dallas/Fort Worth, Denpasar, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Singapore and Tokyo Narita. London is also served via Perth, while Delhi receives seasonal service during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Los Angeles remains particularly important because Qantas serves the city nonstop from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. United Airlines also competes directly on the Melbourne–Los Angeles route, giving travelers another nonstop option between Victoria and Southern California.
Where Qantas Will Continue Flying the Airbus A380
The Melbourne withdrawal leaves Qantas with four remaining A380 routes. The superjumbo will continue serving Sydney–Los Angeles and Sydney–Dallas/Fort Worth, while also operating Sydney–Johannesburg and the Sydney–London service via Singapore.
The Johannesburg route is particularly significant because it is currently the only remaining Qantas A380 nonstop service within the Southern Hemisphere. Qantas operates 10 A380s and remains the only airline flying the type in the Southern Hemisphere.
However, the long-term future of the superjumbo is already defined. Qantas plans to begin withdrawing its A380 fleet from 2028, while its incoming Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft will eventually introduce a new generation of ultra-long-haul operations under Project Sunrise.
The A380’s role is therefore gradually changing from a cornerstone of Qantas’ international network to a more limited fleet serving selected high-demand routes. For Melbourne passengers, that transition arrives on October 24, when the final Qantas A380 flight to Los Angeles closes another chapter in the airline’s superjumbo era.
