American Airlines Inaugural Los Angeles-Sydney Service
American Airlines is now operating into Australia again, with the touchdown of their inaugural AAL73 service on Sydney's Runway 34L early this morning. The service was operated by 310 seat Boeing B777-300ER N720AN, and marks AA's return to Sydney after a 23 year absence. American Airlines conducted a Promotional Tour of their Flagship B777 product back on the 13th November, when the two week old B777-300ER N734AR flew in from Hong Kong to showcase the new product offering.
This morning's arrival was welcomed with a Water Cannon salute by Sydney Airport ARFF Tenders 2 and 6, and there was a beautiful bonus rainbow in the water spray.
Flight AAL73 DEP (LAX) Los Angeles 9.50pm - ARR (SYD) Sydney 7.77am +2 (flight originates in (LAS) Las Vegas
Flight AAL72 DEP (SYD) Sydney 12.13pm - ARR (LAX) 6.37am (same day)
Sydney Airport CEO Kerrie Mather said, "We're thrilled to officially welcome the world's largest airline, American Airlines, to Sydney Airport and Australia. The US is Sydneysiders’ favourite international destination, and this new airline will provide travellers with more choice, convenience and connections to destinations in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. The US is also Sydney’s third largest inbound visitor market. American Airlines’ new service is set to further grow tourism to Sydney, NSW and Australia, bringing an additional 41,000 US visitors to Sydney and boosting annual visitor expenditure by an estimated $65 million".
American Airlines Senior Vice President for International and Cargo Art Torno said, “From today, Australian customers have increased choice of flights to the US, with both American and our joint business partner Qantas, who have excellent onboard products and networks”.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres welcomed the service and said the NSW Government is committed to working with airlines from the US and Australia to increase visitation to Sydney and NSW. “Through our tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, we look forward to working with American Airlines and the opportunity to showcase our beautiful city, award-winning restaurants, stunning beaches and surrounding NSW regions to even more visitors from the US,” Mr Ayres said.
Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said, "The decision by American Airlines to add Australia to its international network was great news for the tourism industry and US/Australia tourism more broadly. The United States is one of our largest volume and highest spending markets, with more than half a million American visitors pumping more than three billion tourism dollars into our economy each year. American Airlines obviously has a huge footprint within the United States and also significant marketing resources which, when combined together, will significantly improve access and awareness of Australia amongst many millions of American holidaymakers and business travellers”.
N720AN touched down on Sydney's Runway 34L marking the completion of the inaugural AAL73 service from Los Angeles to Sydney
Plenty of smoke from the tyres as N720AN touches down just short of the Alpha 5 Holding Point, right in the "Touchdown" zone
The red, white and blue of AA's iconic flag tail starts to appear in the early morning light
Full flaps, spoilers, reverse thrust and braking to pull up the aircraft to exit via the Alpha 2 Rapid
Air Traffic Control held the aircraft on Taxiway Yankee (how appropriate), to allow the Media Bus time to reach the Foxtrot West Holding Point for the Water Cannon salute
N720AN heading down Taxiway Alpha with Singapore Airlines A380 9V-SKG, vacating the Runway behind them on the Alpha 2 Rapid
Great to see another new Airline Livery at Sydney, there have been quite a few lately - the aircraft turns left off Taxiway Alpha into the International 1 Apron
A fitting Water Cannon salute from Sydney ARFF Tenders 2 & 6 at the entrance to the International 1 Apron - hopefully this route is a "Pot Of Gold" for American Airlines, as a lucky rainbow appears
The engines ingest plenty of water from the Water Cannon salute
The rainbow stayed for the complete duration of the Water Cannon salute
Manouvering on the International 1 Apron for Gate 9
That now iconic American Airlines flag tail was gleaming in the morning sun
N720AN pulls up at International Gate 9
The Captain completes the shutdown procedures and paperwork, and can now write up this historic flight in his log book - note the beads of water from the Water Cannon on the fuselage above the cockpit
The return service from Sydney to Los Angeles is AAL72 - N720AN departing Runway 34L
Wheels up and heading back home to Los Angeles, to complete this inaugural round trip
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