Qantas to launch new route as part of major changes to international network

Qantas will scrap flights to an emerging hotspot and fly somewhere new for the first time as part of big changes to its international network.

Qantas is going to fly to Palau for the very first time as part of changes to its international network announced on Wednesday.

It plans to operate weekly flights from Brisbane to the Pacific Island “in the coming months” with flights expected to go on sale in the “next few weeks”.

The airline explained the service will operate as part of a contract awarded to Qantas by the Federal Government to help maintain strong trade and tourism links between the countries.

Palau, also known as Belau, is made up of over 300 islands and has a reputation as an incredible diving destination.

Australian travellers could previously fly from Brisbane to Palau on flights operated by Nauru Airlines.

Palau is made up of over 300 islands. Picture: iStock

Flights from Brisbane to New Caledonia’s capital Noumea will resume from December 14, after they were temporarily suspended in April.

Services will also increase from one to up to two per week, with the Embraer E190 aircraft operating on the route for the first time.

Qantas axes Sydney-Seoul route

From June 14 next year, Qantas will axe its Sydney-Seoul route as its budget airline Jetstar increases flights to the South Korean capital.

There will still be a 4 per cent increase in seats on the route with these changes, which will make Jetstar the largest carrier between Australia and South Korea.

Qantas said customers who are already booked on flights with schedule changes will be contacted in the coming days.

“One of the benefits of our dual brand strategy is the flexibility we have with our combined Qantas and Jetstar fleets,” Qantas Group international chief executive Cam Wallace said.

“Qantas launched flights to Seoul after the pandemic, and now that demand has normalised, it’s grown substantially as a leisure market, opening up a great opportunity for Jetstar to increase its frequencies and allow Qantas to redeploy its aircraft to other routes where we are seeing strong demand.”

Darwin-Singapore takes off from March

The airline announced QantasLink’s new A220 aircraft will make its debut on the international network when flying from Darwin to Singapore from March 30 next year – a new route that had already been revealed.

Flights were originally planned to take off from December this year on the Embraer E190 aircraft but the A220 is larger, offering more than 70,000 seats on the route a year.

This aircraft is currently operating domestically, and will eventually replace QantasLink’s fleet of Boeing 717s as part of the company’s fleet renewal program.

Qantas said the A220 aircraft opens up opportunities for new short-haul international routes.

Qantas will increase capacity to the United States by 13 per cent. Picture: Greg Wood / AFP

Boost to seats flying to the United States

Changes to flights to the United States will see Qantas boost capacity by 13 per cent.

While Qantas will increase Melbourne-Dallas flights from three to four per week from February 6, its Sydney-New York (via Auckland) route will reduce from six flights to five per week.

For flights between Brisbane and Los Angeles, premium seat capacity will more than double from August 11 next year, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner returning to the route. Daily flights will be operated by a mix of A330 and 787 aircraft.

Meanwhile, from this time, the A380 will resume on the Sydney-Dallas route for the first time since before Covid. Daily flights to be operated by a mix of A380 and 787 aircraft.

More than 220,000 seats added in total

Mr Wallace said the changes announced on Wednesday mean the airline will offer travellers more than 220,000 additional seats on the international network over 12 months from February, compared to the current schedule.

He said he was excited for the new A220 aircraft flying Darwin-Singapore as it “will be the first of its kind to operate out of Singapore”.

“We’re also looking forward to seeing more of our A380s return to the skies and offering more premium seats for customers to book to some of our popular international destinations,” he said.

“As part of our historic fleet renewal program, these changes are about having the right aircraft on the right route and responding to growing customer demand.”