Qantas axes only services to mainland China due to half empty planes

The flying kangaroo is axing its only flights into mainland China due to half empty planes but will add another international route in its place.

Qantas will axe its Sydney-Shanghai flights from July 28, blaming “low demand” but may reinstate the service at a later date once the market has fully recovered.

The flights were only restarted in late October after being paused for over three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A network update issued on Tuesday said in some months, flights to Shanghai were operating only half full, prompting the decision to redeploy the A330s used on the route elsewhere.

Bureau of Statistics data showed the number of short term visitors from China to Australia in March was 58,240, less than half the 124,370 who travelled down under in the same month in 2019.

Qantas international chief executive Cam Wallace said the airline would continue to maintain a presence in China through its partners and existing flights to Hong Kong, and they would “look to return to Shanghai in the future”.

Customers booked to travel to Shanghai flights from July 28 were advised they would be entitled to a full refund. Alternatively, they could contact Qantas or their travel agent to discuss rebooking on alternative flights.

The A330 used on the route would be redeployed to a new international route for Qantas between Brisbane and Manila from October 28.

Qantas is reinstating Brisbane-Manila to its network, more than 10 years after it last flew between the cities. Picture: iStock

Four flights a week have been scheduled, marking the first time the airline has flown between the two cities in more than ten years.

Qantas currently flies Sydney-Manila and the new services will add more than 100,000 seats between Australia and the Philippines each year.

Extra capacity will also be added on routes from Sydney and Brisbane to Singapore, and from Sydney to Bengaluru in India.

From December 11, Qantas will operate 17 return flights a week between Sydney and Singapore up from 14, and nine return flights a week to Brisbane-Singapore, up from seven.

Sydney-Bengaluru will be serviced by daily flights from mid-December to late March, and five flights a week at other times.

Mr Wallace said the network changes would create “more choice for corporate and leisure customers and make it even easier for them to access the places they need to travel to in Asia”.

“We’re always looking to ensure that we have the right aircraft on the right routes and at the right time of year to best meet the needs of our customers,” Mr Wallace said.

Flight Centre Corporate was quick to welcome the new Brisbane-Manila services, pointing out the Philippines had become an increasingly important destination for businesses.

Data from FCM and Corporate Traveller showed bookings had taken off by 34 per cent in the first four months of 2024, compared to the same period last year.

“The Philippines is an important trade and investment partner for Australia, with the Philippine economy growing at an average of six per cent per year – one of the fastest growing economies in Asia,” said Flight Centre Corporate chief operating officer Melissa Elf.

“In 2022, Australia’s two-way trade with the Philippines was $8.2bn – our 17th largest trading partner.”

Ms Elf said Australia’s proximity to the Philippines and its reputation as a supplier of quality materials and services had enhanced the bilateral trade, economic, and investment relationship with a market of 113 million people.

“Our data also shows us that the number of business people travelling has seen an increase of nearly 30 per cent when compared to last year – with the top five industries being information technology, finance and insurance, services, construction and education,” she said.

Originally published as Qantas axes only services to mainland China due to half empty planes