LA Rams and 49ers Charter Qantas A380s for Historic Melbourne NFL Game
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers arrived in Melbourne aboard chartered Qantas A380s ahead of the historic first regular-season NFL game played in Australia.
Newsnibs Staff
- 2026-09-10
- Updated 7:20 AM UTC
(Melbourne, Australia)
The Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers arrived in Melbourne aboard chartered Qantas A380 jumbo jets ahead of the first regular-season National Football League game played in Australia.
The Rams' aircraft touched down at 6:02 am after a 14-hour and 52-minute flight covering approximately 12,900 kilometres. Their journey was operated by a crew of four pilots, 22 cabin crew, and one charter manager. Both teams transported a combined total of over 20 tonnes of equipment for the matchup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
To accommodate the athletes on the long-haul flights, the aircraft carried more than 2,000 meals featuring customized high-protein menus designed by nutrition staff, including steak sandwiches and double portions of cheeseburgers. Qantas also supplied bespoke pyjamas in team colors. Rams traveler Byron Young described the experience as "very boujee," adding that it was "crazy."
The fixture has driven a surge in regional tourism. Bookings from the United States to Australia rose 50 per cent year-on-year in the fortnight leading up to the game, while demand for travel from New Zealand into Melbourne increased by more than 30 per cent during game week.
Photo by Ch Photography on Unsplash