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The first commercial Qantas flight from Australia to India in almost a decade took to the skies yesterday, marking another milestone in Australia’s reopening to the world – though it was not Covid that led Qantas to terminate its India service in the first place.
Qantas last flew to India (Brisbane to Mumbai) in 2012 but canned the route due to low yields and a fragmented market, even though India is the fastest-growing aviation market globally.
Yesterday’s flight marks the start of the airline’s first regular passenger service from Australia to Delhi since 1974 – a break of 47 years. The last time Qantas flew that route, Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister of Australia.
This time, Qantas has deployed an Airbus A330-200 on the route. It departed Sydney shortly after 6am yesterday for Adelaide, then flew the Adelaide-Delhi sector.
From 22 December 2021, Qantas will begin a similar service using an A330-200 to connect Melbourne and Delhi. Reports say it will also operate via Adelaide on the northbound leg, non-stop on the return Delhi-Melbourne sector.
Meanwhile, competitor Air India is operating a non-stop Sydney-Delhi service using a B787-8 Dreamliner, according to FlightRadar24.
Qantas says its Sydney-Delhi service and its projected Melbourne-Delhi service have been the fastest selling routes on its international network since borders reopened. Most flights in December have almost entirely sold out, Qantas reports.
Qantas is operating three weekly return flights from Sydney to Delhi, which will increase in January 2021, as well as the looming four weekly return flights from Melbourne to Delhi.
Qantas Domestic and International chief executive Andrew David said demand for flights between Australia and India had surpassed the airline’s expectations.
“We’re thrilled to be beginning commercial flights to India for the first time in almost a decade,” David said.
“There’s a huge amount of pent-up demand from friends and family wanting to reunite after being separated for so long.
“There was an incredible response when we announced both our new routes to Delhi. Forward bookings for the next few months are well ahead of our initial forecasts so while it’s early days, it’s an exciting start.
“The level of pent-up demand on this route can be seen by the fact that almost all customers travelled as planned despite the temporary three-day additional isolation requirement.
“There are very strong trade and economic links between Australia and India, and both the Melbourne and Sydney routes will help support that as international travel starts to normalise.”
It’s the first time Qantas has operated a commercial service to India since the end of its Brisbane to Mumbai service in 2012 and the airline’s first regular passenger flight from Australia to Delhi since 1974.
Over the past 12 months, Qantas operated more than 60 repatriation flights on behalf of the Federal Government flights to bring Australians home from India.
All passengers on Qantas international flights are required to be fully vaccinated, unless they are under 12 years old, or are 12-17 year olds travelling to Australia with their family or guardian, or have an exemption. For full details, visit qantas.com.
Initial international flights are limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families and parents in line with Federal Government requirements. Students and a number of other visa holders are expected to be able to re-enter Australia in the coming weeks.
International flights are subject to government and regulatory approval. 
Written by Peter Needham