Qantas promises extra capacity will help reduce airfares but pilots are furious

Qantas has announced a dramatic increase to its international schedule with close to a million extra seats, but the deal will see Finnair pilots at the helm in a move that has angered local crew.

Qantas has announced a dramatic increase in its international network with close to a million extra seats to become available from late October, lowering fare prices.

The additional capacity will be made possible through the return of more Qantas aircraft to service, new aircraft joining the fleet and an arrangement with Finnair to operate two A330s on Qantas routes.

The deal will see Finnair pilots and cabin crew used on flights from Sydney to Bangkok and Singapore, to the dismay of Qantas pilots.

Australian and International Pilots Association president Tony Lucas called the move “shocking and bitterly disappointing”.

“It beggars belief that Qantas is outsourcing the Spirit of Australia while simultaneously converting two of our own A330 passenger aircraft into freighters,” Mr Lucas said.

“The decision to wet lease illustrates the failures of the fleet planning processes of the last five years and certainly recent decisions made during the pandemic recovery.

“Not only is it disappointing for our hardworking and dedicated pilots but it is also disappointing for loyal Qantas passengers.”

Qantas Group chief Alan Joyce says the rebound in demand for international travel is strong. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce defended the move. “While airlines globally are working to restore capacity to meet demand, there is still a mismatch between supply and demand for international flying,” he said.

“But with more of our aircraft back in the air, new 787s joining our fleet and our contract with Finnair, we’ve got more seats for our customers and more opportunity for Qantas crew as we increase our own flying.

“We know our customers are looking for great value and this additional capacity will also put downward pressure on fares.”

He rejected the pilots’ assertion that the Finnair deal amounted to outsourcing, saying the arrangement would ultimately deliver more jobs at Qantas.

“(Finnair) operate the flights for 2.5-years and then the aircraft converts to what’s known as a dry lease, which means Qantas pilots and crew will operate them,” Mr Joyce said.

“These are aircraft that are as rare as hens’ teeth. We think it’s a win-win.”

New routes to be operated from October 29 include Brisbane-Wellington and Brisbane-Honiara, using Embraer E190 jets.

Qantas will return to Shanghai from Sydney for the first time in three years with daily A330 flights, and flights to Japan from Australian cities will jump from 14 to 28 a week.

A new Sydney-Auckland-New York route starting in June will add a fourth weekly flight from October and Melbourne-LA flights will rise from daily to nine a week with more A380s flying.

Qantas is also preparing to resume San Francisco flights next week, and will restart seasonal flights to Rome next month, as well as Melbourne-Hong Kong.

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Joyce outlined the planned ramp-up of international services at a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Qantas flight training centre.

Being built by Logos adjacent to Sydney Airport, the centre was due to open in early 2024, giving pilots access to flight simulators including for new A350, A220 and A321neo aircraft.

“We know the demand will be huge,” Mr Joyce said.

“We have four simulator sessions a year that are needed for every pilot on an ongoing basis but when you’re changing aircraft it’s 15.”

As one of the biggest beneficiaries of the increased international flights, Brisbane Airport Corporation said new services to Wellington and Honiara were most welcome.

Executive general manager of aviation Ryan Both said a boost to capacity into Tokyo would also have significant benefits for Brisbane and surrounds, with Qantas to fly daily into Narita from November 26.

“This expansion by Qantas will not only mean tourists for Brisbane but also the Gold and Sunshine Coasts with 75 per cent of the state’s international visitors arriving via Brisbane,” Mr Both said.