SYDNEY– Qantas Airways (QF) will briefly operate two Airbus A380 departures to London in a rare move that will see the airline run an additional long-haul service from Australia. The extra flight will depart from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and travel to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) via Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), temporarily doubling the carrier’s A380 presence on the route.
The special service is scheduled for March 7 and will operate alongside the airline’s regular daily Sydney–Singapore–London flight. However, the additional service is a one-off operation and will only operate in one direction, creating an unusual twist for one of Qantas’ flagship long-haul routes.
Qantas will operate the additional service under flight number QF331, departing Sydney at 10:15 pm on March 7. The aircraft will land in Singapore at 3:25 am the following day, before continuing to London Heathrow later that morning.
The airline’s regular QF1 flight will still depart Sydney earlier that evening at 4:15 pm. That service will reach Singapore at 9:35 pm and continue to London shortly after midnight, maintaining the carrier’s normal schedule on the route.
The second service includes a nearly four-hour layover in Singapore before departing for London at 7:20 am local time. The aircraft is expected to arrive at Heathrow around 2:00 pm on March 8.
Tickets for the additional flight have been sold through normal booking channels. However, the airline prioritized passengers who needed to rebook travel during ongoing disruptions affecting travelers trying to return to Europe and other destinations.
One-Way Operation
Despite the added capacity, the extra flight will not operate a return leg to Australia. There is no corresponding QF332 service from London back to Sydney, confirming that the additional A380 journey will only occur in one direction.
Industry observers suggest the aircraft is likely being positioned for a scheduled maintenance visit in Europe or the Middle East. Instead of flying the aircraft empty for repositioning, the airline appears to be carrying passengers on the long-haul journey to reduce operational costs.
This type of operational strategy is occasionally used by airlines when aircraft must be relocated for heavy maintenance checks. By opening ticket sales for the repositioning sector, carriers can offset part of the cost associated with operating such long flights.
According to Simple Flying, passengers are also unable to book standalone tickets between Singapore and London on the QF331 service. This restriction is likely related to traffic rights that normally govern fifth-freedom routes.
History of Qantas A380 in London
Qantas has operated Airbus A380 flights to London Heathrow since January 2009, using the double-decker aircraft primarily on its Sydney–Singapore–London service.
The aircraft remains a key part of the airline’s long-haul network due to its high passenger capacity.
In the past, the airline also operated a second A380 route to London from Melbourne. That service initially stopped in Singapore before later switching to Dubai as part of the airline’s partnership with Emirates.
The Melbourne–Dubai–London A380 flights continued until 2018, marking the last time Qantas regularly operated two daily A380 arrivals into Heathrow.
While the upcoming extra service is only temporary, it briefly recreates that dual-arrival scenario.
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