Marking the first time it has flown the route, Qantas has kicked off its new Brisbane to Port Vila (Vanuatu) service today.

Utilising its B737, Qantas will operate the new flights three times per week – on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

According to the airline, its first flight this morning, QF159, was at full capacity for the three-hour journey.   

Complementing the new service, Qantas subsidiary Jetstar will also commence four-times-weekly flights between Sydney and Port Vila from 12 December 2024.

With the flights, Qantas Group will add more than 150,000 new seats each year between Australia and Vanuatu.

The new flights should offer a much-needed boost for tourism to Vanuatu, which suffered a massive setback when its national airline Air Vanuatu went into administration earlier this year.  

The flying kangaroo has hopped onto four new international routes from Brisbane in the past 12 months, following the commencement of Brisbane-Wellington and Brisbane-Honiara flights in October 2023 and the launch of Brisbane-Manila flights next month.

“We are thrilled to expand our network with the introduction of direct flights between Brisbane and Port Vila,” Qantas Group CEO International Cam Wallace said. 

“This new route will maintain connectivity between Australia and the South Pacific, opening new opportunities for leisure and business travel to the region.

“With its lush landscapes and crystal blue waters, Vanuatu is a truly remarkable destination and we are proud to offer our customers more ways to experience its natural beauty.”

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan Graaff said the new route “reinforces Brisbane Airport’s role as Australia’s Pacific hub”.

“The service offers Queenslanders an easy escape to paradise on our doorstep. It also provides the growing number of people from Vanuatu now living in Queensland, particularly those working in the agricultural sector, with direct access to home and family,” he added.

Meanwhile, Vanuatu Tourism Office CEO Adela Issachar Aru said, “The launch of Qantas’ inaugural flight from Brisbane to Port Vila marks a significant milestone for Vanuatu’s tourism industry and strengthens our connectivity with Australia”.

“Vanuatu offers an unforgettable escape, where travellers can immerse themselves in stunning landscapes, rich kastom, and adventure,” she remarked. 

“We can’t wait to welkam Qantas customers to our shores and share the beautiful experiences our 83 islands have to offer.”

In a further boost to Vanuatu travel, Virgin Australia upped its weekly Vanuatu services from Brisbane to Port Vila to seven return flights per week in July, with the Federal Government giving it the go-ahead to increase capacity even further during peak periods.

In a scenario that could see up to around 110,000 passengers – including hundreds of Aussie travellers – impacted daily, Air Canada is facing the prospect of shutting down most of its flights next week due to a potential pilot strike.

Air Canada announced on Monday that it is preparing to suspend most of its operations as contract negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing over 5,200 pilots, remain unresolved. 

In a statement, the airline said that if no agreement is reached by (Sunday) 15 September 2024, either side can issue a 72-hour strike or lockout notice, triggering a gradual shutdown of the airline’s services.

According to the carrier, the majority of passengers, who rely on Air Canada’s mainline services, could face significant disruptions.

It says that the number of global flyers impacted by the suspension will rise during the period to reach around 110,000 daily, unless a settlement is achieved within the 72-hour notice period.

What it means for flyers

Air Canada currently operates a daily service between Sydney and Vancouver and Brisbane and Vancouver, so the impact of a potential shutdown would have big implications for travel to Canada from Australia – especially considering AC operates the lion’s share of capacity between the two countries (Qantas operates a three-times-weekly service between Sydney and Vancouver).

Customers affected by cancellations will be notified and eligible for a full refund or rebooking, though seats on other airlines may be limited. 

It adds that a goodwill policy in place since 27 August allows passengers with bookings from 15-23 September to change their plans without fees or receive travel credits.

Under Canada’s Airline Passenger Protection Regulations, passengers are not entitled to compensation for delays or cancellations caused by labour disruptions. 

Air Canada advises customers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport and to use self-service tools (where possible) due to expected long wait times.

While Air Canada Express flights, operated by third-party carriers Jazz and PAL Airlines, will continue, they only account for 20 per cent of the airline’s daily customers.

If a shutdown occurs, Air Canada estimates it could take seven to ten days to fully resume operations once a settlement is reached. 

It adds that cargo services will also be impacted during this period.

Air Canada CEO and President Michael Rousseau said the shutdown could still be avoided “provided ALPA moderates its wage demands which far exceed average Canadian wage increases”.

“However, Canadians have recently seen the chaos abrupt airline shutdowns cause for travellers, which obliges us to do everything we can to protect our customers from an increasingly likely work stoppage,” he said. 

“This includes the extremely difficult decision to begin an orderly shutdown of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge once a 72-hour strike or lock out notice is given, possibly as early as this Sunday.”

Whilst apologising to customers, Rousseau stressed that “a managed shutdown is the only responsible course available to us”. 

“We are publicising our plans to give the more than 110,000 people who travel with us each day greater certainty and the opportunity to reduce the risk of being stranded by using our goodwill policy to change or defer imminent travel at no cost,” he remarked. 

“We are also alerting the Government of Canada to the potential disruption’s impact upon Canadians.”

Passengers seeking more information, should visit www.aircanada.com/action. 

Flight Centre consultants (and Karryon) recently went behind the scenes at Brisbane Airport to follow the Air Canada passenger boarding process from go to (almost) take-off, including a sneak peek at a fully kitted-out Dreamliner and how the inflight meal ends up on your tray table.