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In a remarkable stride towards revitalizing international travel connections, Qantas, Australia’s flagship carrier, has resumed its direct flights from Sydney to Shanghai, re-establishing its presence in mainland China after a hiatus spanning more than three years. This move marks a significant milestone, with the Sydney-Shanghai route being the final international destination to rejoin Qantas’ pre-pandemic network, showcasing the airline’s resilience and commitment to global connectivity.

From the onset, Qantas is set to operate flights five days per week using the state-of-the-art Airbus A330, infusing over 2,500 seats per week into the Australia-China travel corridor. As we approach the end of March next year, travellers can anticipate a further escalation in service, with the introduction of daily flights elevating seat availability to a staggering 4,000 per week.

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace has expressed his enthusiasm about this strategic revival, emphasizing the profound implications it has for tourism and the fortification of crucial trade ties between Australia and China. “The reintroduction of Shanghai into our network is a monumental development for our clientele, particularly those journeying for business, reuniting with family, or facilitating vital air freight between the two nations,” Wallace stated.

He further highlighted the business travel sector as a primary focus for this route, expressing optimism about the positive ripple effects recent trade advancements will have on travel frequencies between Australia and China. “The appetite for travel from Chinese visitors to Australia is on a steadfast incline, regaining momentum since the reopening of borders, even though it is yet to reach the zenith we witnessed pre-pandemic,” Wallace added.

Sydney, a hub connected to over 65 destinations nationwide, will serve dual purposes: welcoming inbound tourists and acting as a springboard for Australians embarking on journeys to China. In a generous move, Qantas has made all Economy seats on the Sydney-Shanghai route available for booking using Qantas Points. This gesture is valid for the first three weeks following the resumption of services.

Despite the recent withdrawal of their joint business application, Qantas and China Eastern will maintain their codeshare agreement on select routes, providing ample opportunities for Qantas Frequent Flyers to accrue and redeem points on selected China Eastern flights.

Furthermore, this resurgence coincides with the inauguration of two additional international routes operated by QantasLink—Brisbane to Wellington and Brisbane to Honiara. In tandem, Jetstar is also unveiling a new route from Brisbane to Tokyo (Narita) this week.

The Qantas Group, undeterred and resilient, is steadily fortifying its international offerings, introducing additional flights and routes to meet the burgeoning demand for global travel. With projections indicating a return to total pre-COVID operational capacity by mid-next year, Qantas is poised at a new era in international aviation, redefining travel expectations and solidifying its role as a linchpin in the global travel network.