Want a bigger bite of the Big Apple? Qantas’ non-stop services to JFK are still a while off, but Aussies and Kiwis looking for a New York escape will have more flights to choose from before then.
Starting 10 October 2024, Qantas will boost its non-stop Sydney-Auckland-New York service from four to six flights per week – flying every day except Tuesday.
The move is driven by strong demand, particularly from Australia. Despite this, around 20 per cent of seats on the route are filled by Kiwis, according to Qantas New Zealand Regional Manager Alexandra O’Connor.
“It performs really well for us. Because it starts in Sydney and goes through Auckland we pick up two points of sale,” she told the New Zealand Herald.
“It’s a really important flagship route for Qantas, a premium route that we want to support.
“We get some incredible customer feedback, and so now we’re getting repeat business so that Kiwi percentage of the plane is growing.”
She added that many NZ passengers connect to other destinations through Qantas partners like British Airways and American Airlines, with London, Paris, and Madrid popular choices.
Using the airline’s Boeing Dreamliner aircraft, Qantas’ AKL-JFK service launched in June 2023, initially as a three-times-weekly service. Originating in Sydney, it was later lifted to four flights per week.
Qantas vs Air NZ
QF’s new six-times-weekly service will boost its competition with Air New Zealand, which only offers three flights on the route due to a shortage of long-haul planes.
Another difference between the flying kangaroo and Air NZ on the Auckland-New York route is the aircraft. Qantas’ B787 offers 236 seats, while Air New Zealand’s Dreamliner has 275 seats. However, Qantas offers more premium seating, including 42 business class seats compared to Air New Zealand’s 27.
O’Connor says the carrier is “conscious of making sure that we represent good value, but equally where there’s high demand periods”.
Growing NZ
With over one million Kiwi frequent flyers, the airline is also investing in its NZ presence, including a new brand campaign, which tells the love story of a trans-Tasman couple.
In addition, it’s expanding its domestic network through Jetstar.
While the Qantas Group currently operates up to 170 trans-Tasman flights per week, even more flights could be on the way. According to the Herald, Perth-NZ flights could be among the new services. O’Connor said more announcements were coming in 2024.
“There’s definitely some things that we’re looking at across both brands.”
Qantas resumed flights to New York City in June last year. The returned JFK flights (QF3 and QF4) however came with a change, with the carrier opting for an Auckland stopover instead of flying through Los Angeles as it had previously done.
The Aussie carrier also returned with a special edition of luxe pyjamas, amenity kits and an NYC-inspired in-flight menu.
