Indian Ocean island flights from Perth are set to become faster and more seamless with QantasLink removing the Port Hedland stop from Friday services from 1 May 2026.
QantasLink flights to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands will no longer include a stop in Port Hedland on Fridays, making the journey simpler and faster for travellers heading to the Indian Ocean island destination.
Friday flights from Perth will now operate direct to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. With a flight time of just over four hours, the updated service cuts more than two hours from the Indian Ocean island journey compared with the previous Port Hedland stop.
QantasLink launched twice-weekly services from Perth to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands on 3 November 2025.
The flights to Australia’s Indian Ocean island territories, on Mondays and Fridays, included a brief stop in Port Hedland in WA.
The revised schedule will also make travel easier for east coast clients with later departures allowing for more convenient connections through Perth.
Flights will continue to include Christmas Island, creating more opportunities for travellers to experience two Indian Ocean destinations in one itinerary.
For advisors, the streamlined Cocos (Keeling) Islands direct flights create an easier selling proposition: less travel time, simpler east coast connections and a stronger opportunity to package Cocos and Christmas Island together.
Travellers with existing bookings will receive updated travel information from Qantas via email.
KARRYON UNPACKS: The QantasLink schedule change gives travel advisors more ways to sell Australia’s Indian Ocean territories, where easier access can help convert curiosity into bookings for adventure-minded clients.
