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Qantas Group heads to Delhi, brings forward flights to popular Asian destinations
October 22nd 2021
The Qantas Group will launch Sydney-Delhi before Christmas and bring forward services from Sydney to Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Johannesburg and Fiji. Read More » The resumption means all Australian Qantas Airways and Jetstar employees will return to work in early December. It also will result in two of the group’s A380s re-entering service earlier than planned. Additionally, talks are underway with Boeing for accelerated delivery of three 787s to the group. Jetstar will return to service in coming months with five of its 11 787-8s still in storage in Alice Springs. The return of the first two A380s will be brought forward from July to April 2022 for flights to Los Angeles and three more are due to re-enter service in November 2022. The remaining five of the type are expected to return to flying by early 2024. Subject to regulatory approval, Qantas plans to launch to Delhi from December 6 with three return A330 flights a week. The service will operate until at least late next March with a view to continuing it if demand warrants. Sydney-Singapore flights will re-start a month earlier than expected, on November 23, with three A330 services a week. Services will ramp up from December 18. Jetstar will operate from Melbourne and Darwin to Singapore from December 16. Sydney-Nadi (Fiji) will start on December 7 with 737s and Sydney-Johannesburg on January 5 with B787s. The expanded schedule will be followed by Sydney-Bangkok from January 14 (A330s) and Sydney-Phuket (B787s) from January 12. The faster re-opening of the group’s network follows confirmation from the Australian and New South Wales governments that international border closures will be lifted from November 1. The NSW government has established a A$60 million (US$44.89 million) fund to attract international airlines that is being matched by Sydney Airport. Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce, said the key factor was eased quarantine requirements. “The decision by the NSW Government to join many cities from around the world in removing quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers means we can add these flights from Sydney much earlier than otherwise. As vaccination rates in other states and territories increase, we hope we can restart more international flights out of their capital cities. In the meantime, Sydney is our gateway to the rest of the world.” Joyce said recent sales on international flights to and from Sydney had outstripped sales on domestic flights. “While these flights initially will be for Australians and their families, we expect tourists from Singapore, South Africa and India to take advantage of these services after borders reopen to international visitors, which is great news for the industry,’’ he said “Given the strong ties between Australia and India, flights between Sydney and Delhi have been on our radar for some time. We think there will be strong demand from family and friends wanting to reconnect once borders open.”
