Qantas is expanding its international network by adding new aircraft, a new destination and changing its schedule to better support the growing demand of customers in key markets such as Asia Pacific and US.
Starting February 2025, Australia’s flag carrier will add around 220,000 extra seats to its network of international flights over a 12-month period compared to the current schedule.
This will be made possible by the launch of its new Brisbane–Palau route, the return of two Airbus A380s following maintenance and cabin modifications, as well as the arrival of more next-generation A220 aircraft for QantasLink.
Qantas will be able to increase capacity to the United States and offer customers 30 per cent more premium seating on long-haul flights, with the return of A380s in the network starting next August.
Customers will also be able to travel to Los Angeles and Auckland in Premium Economy or with more seats, as the airline returns its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
New routes around the world
The national carrier announced today that it will also add Palau to their map for the very first time. It will operate weekly flights from Brisbane to this Pacific Island using its 737 aircraft.
The service, known as the ‘Palau Paradise Express’ will operate as part of a contract awarded to Qantas by the Federal Government and will help maintain strong trade and tourism links between Australia and Palau.
Qantas’ customers will have access to a brand new leisure destination in the airline’s network: Palau, a place renowned for its pristine water, unique marine life, and as a haven of divers and hikers.
The route will begin in the coming months, and tickets will be on sale within the next few days.
In March, QantasLink will begin flying between Darwin and Singapore with its new A220 aircraft.
The A220 with 137 seats will fly five times per week on this route, offering more than 70,000 seats annually.
QantasLink took delivery of four of its 29 A220 jets, which will gradually replace the Boeing 717s that have been serving the Qantas Group fleet renewal program for many years.
The A220 has almost twice the range of a 717 and can fly between any two Australian points. It also opens up new opportunities for short-haul international flights, such as Darwin-Singapore. The aircraft is currently flying on a variety of domestic and regional routes.
Jetstar also announced that they will increase their flights from four to daily, as Qantas will no longer fly between Sydney and Seoul. This swap will result an overall increase of seats between the two cities and better serve strong leisure demand on the route.
