Thaindian News

Sydney, Nov 23 (ANI): Qantas has said that it is to resume some Airbus A380 flights from Saturday after checking the engines on its fleet of superjumbos.

According to news.com.au, the announcement has come three weeks after a mid-air engine explosion triggered serious safety concerns over the passenger jets.

The first A380 aircraft would arrive in Sydney tomorrow from Los Angeles, US, while a second one is expected to take off from Los Angeles for Sydney later this week. The airline expects to have four A380s in operation by Christmas, the report said.

Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce reportedly promised to be onboard the first flight, QF31, from Sydney to London via Singapore.

“We are completely comfortable with the operation of the aircraft. We’re working with Airbus and Rolls-Royce on what it will take to get the (other) aircraft back in the air,’ Joyce said.

He further stated that the “check regime” that has been carried out would ensure that the planes are safe and also prevent the problems from occurring again, adding that the aircraft would not be used on the trans-Pacific Los Angeles route until the company was “100 percent sure’ the problems had been resolved.

Qantas would instead start by operating a single A380 on routes between Australia and the UK, he added.

Joyce has said that Rolls-Royce has apologised but when asked if the airline will seek compensation he said: “We will have that dialogue, but now is not the time.’

Qantas grounded its six A380s 19 days back after a Sydney-bound QF32 was forced to return to Singapore when one of its engines exploded mid-air. The planes are being investigated in Singapore by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. (ANI)