Qantas is set to significantly expand its international operations, with the addition of 220,000 seats, new aircraft, and a brand-new route.

Over the next 12 months, the airline will increase capacity to meet growing demand in the Asia Pacific and US markets, introducing new services and improving fleet efficiency.

From February 2025, Qantas will roll out these changes across its international network, starting with the launch of a new route between Brisbane and Palau.

The airline will also return two Airbus A380s to service and introduce more next-generation A220 aircraft, boosting seat availability and enhancing passenger comfort.

Increased Capacity to the United States

Qantas will increase its capacity to the US by 13%, offering 30% more premium seats on long-haul flights with the return of additional A380 aircraft by August 2025.

The Brisbane to Los Angeles route will benefit from the reintroduction of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, offering passengers the option of Premium Economy and increased seat availability.

This move responds to the growing demand for flights between Australia and the US, providing more options for travelers seeking premium travel experiences.

New Brisbane to Palau Route

For the first time, Qantas will add Palau to its international map, launching a weekly service from Brisbane to the Pacific island nation.

The ‘Palau Paradise Express,’ operated by a 737 aircraft, will begin flights in the coming months. This route is part of a contract awarded to Qantas by the Australian Federal Government to support trade and tourism links between Australia and Palau.

Known for its pristine waters and unique marine life, Palau is expected to become a popular destination for divers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Darwin to Singapore Route Upgraded

QantasLink’s new A220 aircraft will make its international debut in March 2025, serving the Darwin to Singapore route.

Initially planned to operate with the Embraer E190, the larger 137-seat A220 will now take over, offering over 70,000 seats annually on five weekly flights.

This shift is part of Qantas’ broader fleet renewal strategy, which is phasing out older Boeing 717s in favor of more efficient aircraft.

Changes to Seoul Flights

Qantas will cease operations between Sydney and Seoul from June 2025. However, its low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar, will increase its flights on this route from four per week to daily, resulting in a net increase in seat availability.

This adjustment is aimed at catering to the strong leisure demand between the two cities, allowing Qantas to redeploy aircraft to higher-demand routes.

Comments from Qantas Group International CEO

Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas Group International, expressed excitement about the upcoming changes, stating: “We’re thrilled to offer our customers more than 220,000 additional seats, a new international destination, and the debut of our A220 aircraft on the Singapore-Darwin route. These changes reflect our commitment to meeting growing customer demand while ensuring we have the right aircraft on the right routes.”

The expansion of Qantas’ international network underscores its dual-brand strategy, which leverages the combined fleets of Qantas and Jetstar to offer flexibility and increased service options for passengers.

In a major development for Australian aviation, Qatar Airways Group has announced its intention to acquire a 25% minority stake in Virgin Australia, subject to regulatory approval.

This strategic investment is set to strengthen the partnership between the two airlines, bringing a host of benefits to travellers, including more competitive fares, expanded international routes, and improved frequent flyer perks.

More Choice and Greater Value for Australian Travellers

A key benefit of this partnership will be increased competition in the Australian aviation market. Virgin Australia will now be positioned to enhance its international offerings, giving Australian consumers more choice and better value.

The Qatar Airways investment will support Virgin Australia in navigating the inherent volatility of the aviation sector, ensuring the airline can offer more affordable fares and improved services.

Virgin Australia’s CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, stressed the significance of this investment for consumers. “This partnership brings the missing piece to Virgin Australia’s longer-term strategy and is a huge vote of confidence in Australian aviation,” she said. “It will further strengthen Virgin Australia’s ability to compete over the long term, which will inevitably translate into more choice and even better value airfares for consumers as well as additional Australian aviation jobs.”

New Long-Haul Routes to Begin in 2025

One of the most anticipated benefits for travellers is the introduction of new long-haul flights. Beginning in mid-2025, Virgin Australia plans to launch routes from major Australian cities—Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth—to Doha, Qatar Airways’ home base. These new routes will open up access to Qatar Airways’ extensive global network, which includes over 100 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Virgin Australia’s planned wet lease arrangement (a type of leasing arrangement in aviation where one airline (Qatar) provides another airline (Virgin) with an aircraft, along with a complete crew and maintenance) will allow the airline to assess the viability of these long-haul services, ensuring that the new offerings meet consumer demand while delivering sustainable growth.

Enhanced Frequent Flyer Benefits and Expanded Code-Sharing

Frequent travellers stand to benefit from the expanded partnership between Virgin Australia’s Velocity program and Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club.

The collaboration will offer passengers more opportunities to earn and redeem points, as well as access to a greater range of destinations and improved schedule options.

The increased synergy between the two airlines’ loyalty programs will hopefully make it easier for Australian travellers to maximize the value of their frequent flyer points on international journeys.

The deeper code-sharing agreement between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways will also improve connectivity, offering Australian passengers more frequent flights and greater flexibility when planning their trips.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, corporate clients, and leisure travellers alike will benefit from these expanded options, as they gain access to a wider range of competitive fare options and flight schedules tailored to their needs.

Looking Ahead

As Virgin Australia prepares for its long-anticipated return to public ownership, the equity investment from Qatar Airways is expected to be a cornerstone of the airline’s strategic growth.

The move, which is still subject to regulatory approval, marks a significant milestone for Virgin Australia as it rebuilds following its post-pandemic recovery.

Qantas has announced a new direct flight service from Melbourne to Honolulu, set to commence in May 2025.

The new Honolulu route will operate three times weekly using an Airbus A330.

Jetstar, Qantas’ low-cost subsidiary, will discontinue its existing Honolulu service from Melbourne as Qantas takes over.

Qantas and Jetstar will continue to operate their services between Sydney and Honolulu.

To celebrate, the airline is offering discounts on 50,000 seats across its network in the Americas, including destinations such as Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and Santiago.

Economy return fares for the new route will start at $1,049 while Classic Plus reward seats begin at 61,900 points + $430.

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said: “We are thrilled to continue to enhance our network in America with the launch of a new route from Melbourne to Honolulu, bringing a new, tropical destination to our Melbourne customers.”

“Our new service ensures continued connectivity for Melbournians to Hawaii, while enabling Jetstar to redeploy its 787 aircraft to other destinations and long-haul routes.”

Qantas’ inaugural Perth-Paris flight will be touching down in the French capital in a few hours.

The new route – Qantas’ third direct from Perth to Europe – comes just in time for the 2024 Olympics and follows the success of the carrier’s nonstop flights from Perth to London and Rome.

The new year-round route will see Qantas operate to the French capital for the first time in nearly two decades, cutting around three hours off the current fastest travel time from Perth to Paris.

The 17-hour flights will initially operate four days per week during the peak European summer with the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which features economy, premium economy and business class.

Services will move to three per week from mid-August 2024.

The Dreamliner has been specially designed for long-haul travel, with all passengers benefitting from large windows, high cabin humidity and relaxing mood lighting.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the national carrier’s return to Paris followed on from the success of its non-stop services into Europe.

“There is a lot of excitement amongst our customers and crew that Qantas is returning to Paris and that it’s a non-stop flight between Perth and Paris,” Ms Hudson said.

“In recent years we have seen a significant increase in customers wanting to fly direct on long haul routes and avoiding stop overs wherever possible. Our direct flights from Perth to London and Rome have some of the highest customer satisfaction on our international network.”

The route launch follows the recent announcement of a landmark agreement between Qantas and Perth Airport that will help unlock the airline’s western hub, with a new Terminal being built that will see Perth become Qantas’ second busiest port in the nation after Sydney.

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