Qantas has today revealed plans to enhance its international network by leasing extra aircraft, boosting flight frequencies and introducing new routes. The move comes in response to growing travel demand as the aviation industry is almost entirely recovered. From as soon as October 2023, Qantas says they expect to offer customers more options to popular destinations in Asia, the United States, and throughout the Pacific. In total the airline expects to offer approximately one million additional seats across their international network in the twelve months following October 2023.
“We know our customers are looking for great value and this additional capacity will also put downward pressure on fares,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.
Mr Joyce also reminded the media that Qantas has been “the most on-time major domestic airline for the past eight months in a row” despite announcing changes to their international network. The outgoing executive also mentioned that improved performance would allow Qantas to “release some of the aircraft we’ve had in reserve.”
Qantas explained that their capacity expansion would be made possible through a combination of returning stored aircraft into service, acquiring new aircraft and collaborating with oneworld airline partner Finnair.
Over the past six months, Qantas has added five widebody aircraft to its fleet, including one two-year-old Boeing 787s delivered last month. In addition, two Dreamliner’s will enter the fleet from next month, making for 14 of the type. The latest Qantas A380 was reactivated in January following storage in the desert, with another superjumbo scheduled to return to service by the end of this year, following required maintenance and cabin modifications.
Additionally, Qantas has secured an agreement with Finnair who will operate two Airbus A330 aircraft to supplement existing routes. Finnair will operate selected Qantas flights between Sydney and Singapore from late October. From late March 2024, the Finnair A330s will exclusively service all flights between Sydney and Bangkok. During the first two-and-a-half years of the agreement, Finnair pilots and cabin crew will operate the flights, with Qantas inflight food and beverage, amenities, inflight entertainment, and baggage allowance. Then, from late 2025, Qantas will dry lease two Finnair A330s, enabling Qantas pilots and cabin crew to operate the aircraft for up to three years.
From a passenger perspective, these Qantas Finnair A330s will offer a superior experience for business class passengers with the Australian debut of Finnair’s loved AirLounge seat. This is Finnair’s newest product, and unlike conventional seats, it doesn’t recline. Instead, the entirety of the seat is wrapped in a cocoon-like shell that allows passengers to enjoy a cosy crib. When it’s time for bed, the footrest sections raise to create a fully-flat bed dressed by a mattress and duvet.
Tickets for the newly added services will gradually become available for purchase starting today. Qantas will boost flying on the following routes from 29 October 2023;
- Melbourne – Los Angeles: increase from daily to nine per week.
- Sydney – Auckland – New York: increase from three to four per week.
- Sydney – Tokyo: increase from daily to double daily.
- Melbourne – Tokyo: increase from four per week to daily.
- Brisbane – Tokyo: increase from three per week to daily.
- Sydney – Shanghai: daily A330 flights for the first time in over three years.
- Sydney – Hong Kong: daily flights operated by a mix of A380 and A330 aircraft.
- Melbourne – Hong Kong: increase from four per week to daily.
- Melbourne – Singapore: increase from 10 to 14 per week from 31 March 2024.
- Sydney – Singapore: increase from 14 to 15 per week from 31 March 2024.
- Melbourne – Delhi: increase from three to six per week seasonally.
- Brisbane – Wellington: new route to operate daily with E190 aircraft.
- Brisbane – Honiara: new route to operate three days per week with E190 aircraft.
- Sydney – Christchurch: increase from 11 to 14 per week.
- Sydney – Queenstown: up to 14 flights per week seasonally.
