Qantas has announced a series of updates to its Asia network including a route suspension, additional flights and the launch of a new service.
Shanghai flights to be suspended
The Australian flag carrier said its flight service from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) will be suspended from July 28, 2024, due to low demand.
Qantas resumed its Sydney-Shanghai service in October 2023 after it was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to the carrier, demand has not recovered as anticipated.
Qantas said it will consider returning the service when demand for the route returns.
The airline said customers booked to travel on Shanghai flights from July 28, 2024, will be contacted and offered a full refund.
According to Qantas, aircraft used on the Shanghai route will be redirected to boost services to other destinations across Asia where there is increasing demand or new tourism opportunities.
“Since COVID, the demand for travel between Australia and China has not recovered as strongly as expected. In some months, our flights to and from Shanghai have been operating around half full,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said in a statement.
“We’ll continue to maintain a presence in China through our partners and our existing flights to Hong Kong and look to return to Shanghai in the future,” Wallace added.
Brisbane to Manila flights to be launched
From October 28, 2024, Qantas will begin flights from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in the Philippines.
The four-times weekly flights will be operated by the airline’s fleet of A330 aircraft.
Qantas last flew the Brisbane-Manila route a decade ago.
Additional flights to Singapore and India
Qantas flights from Sydney to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) will increase from 14 to 17 return flights per week from December 11, 2024.
Brisbane to Singapore will increase from seven to nine return flights per week from October 27, 2024, timed to improve connectivity with Qantas’ daily service from SIN Airport to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR). Qantas said the new connection will reduce overall travel time to London by around four hours.
Flights from Sydney to Bengaluru Airport (BLR) will also increase from five per week to daily in order to cater to strong demand over the peak holiday season from mid-December 2024 to late March 2025.