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Qantas launches new int'l route, adds Hawai'i seats, names QantasLink CEO

Get ready for new flights to Papua New Guinea. Commencing March 2024, Qantas will launch non-stop flights between Sydney and Port Moresby, with two return services per week operating Monday and Friday.

Get ready for new flights to Papua New Guinea. Commencing March 2024, Qantas will launch non-stop flights between Sydney and Port Moresby, with two return services per week operating Monday and Friday.

Qantas will utilise its B737 aircraft on the route, which adds to the carrier’s current daily direct service between Brisbane and the PNG capital. 

On sale from today, fares on the route start from $861 return. 

In another update to its international network, the flying kangaroo will introduce its B787 Dreamliner aircraft on the Sydney-Honolulu route for the first time. 

Replacing the current A330 used on the route, the upgauge will give passengers the choice of Economy, Premium Economy and Business cabins on the popular leisure route.

A QF B787 at LAX.
A QF B787 at LAX.

The announcement comes ahead of Qantas’ return to Shanghai this weekend following more than three years of paused operations. 

Elsewhere, Qantas and Jetstar are preparing for several new and upgraded services over the next month as international demand continues to surge. Among these are: 

  • New routes from Brisbane including Qantas to Wellington and Honiara and Jetstar to Tokyo (Narita)
  • An increase between Sydney and New York (via Auckland) to four flights per week
  • An increase of Jetstar’s Brisbane-Auckland service to daily flights
  • An upgauge on QF’s Sydney-Bali flights, from a B737 to an A330
  • Increased frequencies on Melbourne-Hong Kong, Singapore, and Los Angeles route
  • Doubled frequencies to Tokyo, providing four daily Australia-Japan flights from November 26

QantasLink boss named

Passengers board a QantasLink aircraft in Hamilton Island. Qantas
Passengers board a QantasLink aircraft in Hamilton Island.

Meanwhile, the Qantas Group has appointed Rachel Yangoyan as new CEO of its regional and charter business, QantasLink.

Yangoyan replaces John Gissing in the role, who will retire in early November before taking on an advisory role for 12 months.

The new CEO has been with the Qantas Group for 20 years, holding executive roles at customer experience, operations, airports, loyalty and strategy. Most recently, she led Qantas’ ‘entry into service’ program for Qantas’ fleet renewal.

“Qantas started in outback Australia and it’s an honour to be taking on the role of QantasLink CEO and working with our people on improving how we serve regional communities as well as the resources sector,” Yangoyan remarked. 

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson.
Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said Yangoyan has a “deep understanding of what it takes to run an airline and brings a lot of capability to this role”. 

“As CEO of QantasLink, she’ll be responsible for our regional and charter operations, which are key parts of our business and also key to the role we play in connecting remote parts of Australia,” she stated.

“This appointment completes the new leadership team structure we announced earlier in the year, which is focused on dealing with the challenges and opportunities now in front of us.”

Last week, Qantas Group added new Chief People Officer Catherine Walsh and announced that Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth would step down from the role she has held since 2018 effective February 2024.