New Qantas planes to be named after famous antipodeans

Qantas will name new aircraft after those who cemented strong links between Australia and New Zealand with its first new plane to operate on the Auckland-Sydney-Melbourne route, the Shipping Gazette informs.

Its first new Boeing 737-800 to add to the fleet will be named after Jean Batten, a pioneer flier who set the women's record in 1934 in an England to Australia flight and made the fastest run from England to South America in 1935, also the fastest crossing of the South Atlantic. A year later she made the fastest flight from England to New Zealand, a record she held for 40 years.

The remaining two aircraft will be named after Sir William Hudson, engineer of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme, and the acclaimed author Katherine Mansfield, and will be operated by NZ-based pilots and crew on the trans-Tasman Sea routes from mid-October. The remaining aircraft is to arrive by 2011, said Grant Lilly, Qantas' regional general manager for New Zealand in a company statement.

"It is undeniable that Jean Batten, Sir William Hudson and Katherine Mansfield, were pioneers in exporting New Zealand skills and culture on a global scale," said Mr Lilly on presenting the plaque to 22 relatives present at the commemorative naming of the first three aircraft.

The new aircraft boast 12-seat business class and 156-seat economy configuration with styled seating design with a 22 inch width and 37 inch seat pitch in business, 17 inch width and 20 inch width seat pitch in economy.

Source: Transportweekly