Spread the love

Post Views: 88

Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier, has announced a comprehensive strategy to revitalize its international network, aiming to meet the surging travel demand and contribute to the ongoing recovery of the aviation industry. This ambitious plan includes adding more flights, increased fleet size, and the introduction of new routes, solidifying Qantas’ position as a leading player in the global airline market.

Commencing in late October 2023, Qantas will introduce approximately one million additional seats to its international network over the course of the next 12 months, surpassing its current schedule. This expansion will provide customers with an enhanced selection of travel options to sought-after destinations across Asia, the United States, and the Pacific.

The bolstered capacity will be made possible through a combination of factors, including the reintegration of more Qantas aircraft into service, introducing new aircraft into the fleet, and a strategic partnership with oneworld alliance member Finnair. Under this arrangement, two Airbus A330 aircraft from Finnair will operate on two Qantas routes, further augmenting the carrier’s capabilities.

With these network adjustments, Qantas aims to elevate its international capacity to approximately 100% of pre-COVID levels by March 2024, representing a remarkable growth from 44% a year ago and the current 84%. To accommodate the expanded operations, Qantas has been proactively recruiting, successfully adding 2,400 pilots and cabin crew members to its workforce since the reopening of borders. An additional 300 personnel are expected to be hired by the end of the year to meet the escollating demand.

Qantas has reintegrated five international aircraft into its fleet in the past six months alone. Some of these planes were retrieved from long-term storage, while others were previously designated as operational spares during the industry’s stabilization period. A new Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrived in May, and two more are scheduled for delivery next month. Additionally, the most recent Qantas A380, stored in the desert, was reactivated in January. Another A380 will undergo maintenance and cabin modifications before returning to service by the year-end.

This announcement coincides with Qantas’ imminent resumption of San Francisco flights and the highly anticipated launch of its inaugural service from Sydney to New York via Auckland in the coming weeks. Furthermore, Qantas plans to reinstate seasonal flights to Rome and resume flights between Melbourne and Hong Kong in June.

Regarding the strategic initiative, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce expressed his enthusiasm for the anticipated surge in international travel demand. “The rebound in demand for international travel since borders reopened has been incredibly strong, and this boost to our network will add hundreds of thousands of seats in time for the busy Australian summer holiday period,” he stated. Joyce also attributed the increased capacity to Qantas’ impressive performance as the most punctual major domestic airline for the past eight consecutive months, allowing the release of reserved aircraft. He commended the concerted efforts of Qantas employees across the organization and emphasized that the restored operations would create downward pressure on fares, ultimately benefiting customers.

The expanded flight schedule will be implemented on various key routes from October 29, 2023, onwards:

United States:

Melbourne – Los Angeles: Flight frequency will increase from daily to nine times per week, boosting capacity by approximately 60% with the addition of more A380 aircraft.
Sydney – New York via Auckland: The service will increase from three to four weekly flights.

Asia:

Flights between Australia and Tokyo will double, rising from 14 to 28 flights per week, offering customers the choice of four daily flights to Japan starting November 26.
- Sydney – Tokyo: Frequency will increase from daily to double daily.
- Melbourne – Tokyo: Flights will increase from four per week to daily.
- Brisbane – Tokyo: Service will expand from three per week to daily.
  - Services from Melbourne and Brisbane will be shifted to Narita Airport.
Sydney – Shanghai: Qantas will resume daily A330 flights to Shanghai after a hiatus of over three years.
Sydney – Hong Kong: Capacity will be increased by more than 50% during the peak Australian summer season, with daily flights operated by a combination of A380 and A330 aircraft.
Melbourne – Hong Kong: Frequency will increase from four to seven weekly flights, facilitating daily service.
Melbourne – Singapore: From March 31, 2024, flights will increase from 10 to 14 per week.
Sydney – Singapore: On March 31, 2024, flights will rise from 14 to 15 per week.
Melbourne – Delhi: During the peak Australian summer season, flights will increase from three to six per week.

Pacific and Tasman:

Brisbane – Wellington: A new daily route will be launched, served by E190 aircraft.
Brisbane – Honiara, Solomon Islands: A new route will operate three days per week, utilizing E190 aircraft.
Sydney – Christchurch: Frequency will increase from 11 to 14 flights per week.
Sydney – Queenstown: An additional weekly flight will be added during the peak Australian summer season, resulting in up to 14 flights.

Tickets for the newly introduced services will be progressively available for sale starting today through qantas.com and various travel agents. Customers who have already booked flights affected by the schedule changes will be contacted directly in the coming days to ensure a smooth transition.

It is important to note that Qantas permits the use of COVID credits when booking flights. The recent extension of the travel expiry date for these credits grants customers an additional 12 months to embark on their journeys as long as they make their bookings by December 31 of this year.

Regarding the collaboration with Finnair, the Finnair A330 aircraft will commence operations on selected Qantas flights between Sydney and Singapore in late October. Furthermore, starting in late March 2024, all flights between Sydney and Bangkok will be serviced by Finnair A330 aircraft. This collaboration will enable Qantas to reallocate its own aircraft and crew, expanding its flight offerings in other regions. For the first two-and-a-half years of the agreement, Finnair pilots and cabin crew will operate the flights, ensuring customers continue to receive Qantas’ outstanding inflight services, including food and beverage options, amenities, entertainment, and baggage allowance. From late 2025, two Finnair A330s will be dry leased, operating for up to three years with Qantas pilots and cabin crew. This decision is expected to generate new employment opportunities and promote career advancement within Qantas.

It should be noted that the operation of certain flights remains subject to approval from government and regulatory authorities.