Qantas to boost its international network with more aircraft and new routes

Dergam Mousa

2 years ago

Australian airline Qantas will boost its international network with additional flights, more aircraft and new routes as it restores capacity in line with strong travel demand and the broader aviation industry recovery.

From the end of October 2023, the airline will add around one million seats to its international network in 12 months compared to its current schedule, offering customers more options to destinations in Asia, the United States and the Pacific.

The additional capacity will be made possible by a combination of more aircraft returning to service, new aircraft joining the fleet and an agreement with oneworld partner Finnair to operate two Airbus A330 aircraft on two Qantas routes.

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The network changes will see the Group’s international capacity grow to close to 100% of pre-COVID levels by March 2024, up from 44% 12 months ago and 84% today.

In the past six months, Qantas has brought five international aircraft back into its fleet, some from long-term storage and others that were on standby as operational spares while the industry stabilized. One new Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrived in May and two others will be delivered next month. One A380 that was in desert storage was reactivated in January and yet another will return to service later in the year after maintenance and cabin modifications.

This announcement comes as Qantas prepares to resume flights to San Francisco next week and inaugurate its route between Sydney and New York via Auckland next month. Seasonal services to Rome and flights between Melbourne and Hong Kong will resume in June.

“The upturn in demand for international travel since the reopening of borders has been incredibly strong and this boost to our network will add hundreds of thousands of seats in time for Australia’s busy summer vacation period,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.