Qantas / Emirates partnership starts; first flights from Sydney & Melbourne via Dubai to London overfly Perth

ABOVE: VH-OQI Airbus A380-842 (cn 055) of Qantas, named “David Warren”, operating flight QF9 from Melbourne – Dubai – London Heathrow, flying over Perth at 34,000 feet and 511 knots (946kmh). This was the first Qantas flight to operate from Australia to the UK via Dubai under the new Qantas / Emirates partnership arrangement, which started today (31 March 2013).
Photo © David Eyre

VH-OQJ Airbus A380-842 (cn 062) of Qantas, named “Bert Hinkler”, operating flight QF1 from Sydney – Dubai – London Heathrow, flying over Perth at 34,000 feet and 519 knots (961kmh). This was the second Qantas flight to operate from Australia to the UK via Dubai under the new Qantas / Emirates partnership arrangement, which started today (31 March 2013), but the first to operate from Sydney.
Photo © David Eyre

31 March 2013 © David Eyre

Qantas new partnership arrangement with Emirates commenced today – Sunday 31 March 2013 (Easter Sunday). To celebrate the new partnership today, Qantas A380 VH-OQJ operated as QF6620 on a short formation flight with Emirates A380 A6-EDY, flying over Sydney Harbour and city, before returning to Sydney Airport.

The arrangement meant the end of Australia – UK flights operating via Singapore. Today, the first two Australia – UK flights operated via Dubai. Thanks to to favourable winds, the aircraft were routed over Perth, enabling aviation enthusiasts to capture these historic photos.

First to depart was Airbus A380 VH-OQI on flight QF9 from Melbourne via Dubai to London Heathrow. It departed Melbourne at 16:47 Eastern time (13:47 Perth time), and just over three hours later (16:53-16:56 Perth time), it flew over Perth. It crossed from Kalamunda over Perth Airport and then crossed the coast over Scarborough, flying at an altitude of 34,000 feet, at a speed of 511kts (946kmh) on course 287°.

Second to depart was A380 VH-OQJ on flight QF1 from Sydney (where it had earlier performed a formation flypast over Sydney harbour with Emirates A380 A6-EDY), via Dubai to London Heathrow. It departed Sydney at 17:18 Eastern time (14:18 Perth time), and just under three hours later (18:12-18:14 Perth time), it flew over Perth. It crossed from Kenwick and headed out over the coast at Swanbourne, cruising at an altitude of 34,000 ft, speed of 519 kt (961 km/h), on course 289°.