Qantas has announced a raft of major updates to its international network, including a big boost to services to the US and across Asia and multiple new routes.
The massive move comes as Qantas brings capacity in line with “strong travel demand”.
From late October 2023, the airline will introduce most of the updates, adding around one million seats to its international network over 12 months, compared to its current schedule.
The changes will also see the Qantas Group’s capacity rise to around 100 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by March 2024. A year ago, the carrier was operating at 44 per cent, while it operates at 84 per cent today.
Among the developments to watch out for before October are the launch of Sydney to New York via Auckland flights next month and the resumption of San Francisco flights next week.
Then on October 29, Qantas will increase Melbourne-Los Angeles services, up SYD-JFK capacity, double overall capacity to Japan with four daily flights to Tokyo, recommence SYD-Shanghai flights, and increase SYD and MEL to Hong Kong services.
Over the peak Australian summer season, QF will up MEL-Delhi services, and on 31 March 2024, increase SYD and MEL to Singapore capacity.
New routes
Closer to home, the flying kangaroo will commence a brand new daily Brisbane-Wellington route. It will also start a three-times weekly BNE-Honiara (Solomon Islands) service.
SYD to Christchurch and Queenstown flights are also scheduled to grow.
Qantas will add capacity through more QF aircraft returning to service, new planes joining the fleet, and the lease of two A330 jets from oneworld partner Finnair.
Qantas says 300 extra staff will be needed by the end of the year to handle the boost.
“The rebound in demand for international travel since borders reopened has been incredibly strong and this boost to our network will add hundreds of thousands of seats in time for the busy Australian summer holiday period,” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said.
“Qantas has been the most on-time major domestic airline for the past eight months in a row and that improved performance means we can release some of the aircraft we’ve had in reserve.
“That reflects more parts of the aviation supply chain returning to normal and it’s a huge credit to the hard work of our people across the Group.”
Joyce added that while airlines worked to return to full capacity, “there is still a mismatch between supply and demand for international flying”.
“But with more of our aircraft back in the air, new 787s joining our fleet and our contract with Finnair, we’ve got more seats for our customers and more opportunity for Qantas crew as we increase our own flying,” he said.
“We know our customers are looking for great value and this additional capacity will also put downward pressure on fares.”
Tickets for the new services will roll out from today. Customers already booked on flights with schedule changes will be contacted directly in the coming days.
The full schedule of Qantas announcements:
| United States | ||
| Melbourne – Los Angeles | Flights to increase from daily to nine per week, increasing capacity by around 60 per cent with more A380 flying. | |
| Sydney – New York via Auckland | Flights to increase from three to four per week. | |
| Asia | ||
| Australia to Tokyo | Flights to double, increasing from 14 to 28 per week, offering the choice of four daily flights to Japan from 26 November. · Sydney –Tokyo to increase from daily to double daily. · Melbourne – Tokyo to increase from four per week to daily. · Brisbane – Tokyo to increase from three per week to daily. Services from Melbourne and Brisbane will move to Narita Airport. |
|
| Sydney – Shanghai | Flights to commence for the first time in more than three years with daily A330 flights. | |
| Sydney – Hong Kong | Capacity boosted by more than 50 per cent over the peak Australian summer season, with daily flights to be operated by a mix of A380 and A330 aircraft. | |
| Melbourne – Hong Kong | Flights to increase from four per week to daily. | |
| Melbourne – Singapore | Flights to increase from 10 to 14 per week from 31 March 2024. | |
| Sydney – Singapore | Flights to increase from 14 to 15 per week from 31 March 2024. | |
| Melbourne – Delhi | Flights to increase from three to six per week over the peak Australian summer season. | |
| Pacific and Tasman | ||
| Brisbane – Wellington | New route to operate daily with E190 aircraft. | |
| Brisbane – Honiara, Solomon Islands | New route to operate three days per week with E190 aircraft. | |
| Sydney – Christchurch | Flights to increase from 11 to 14 per week. | |
| Sydney – Queenstown | Flights to increase by up to one per week, with up to 14 flights over the peak Australian summer season. | |
In early May, Qantas revealed that Vanessa Hudson will take over as Group CEO when Joyce retires in November 2023.
