Suspends Sydney-Shanghai flights and adds Brisbane-Manila

As part of a significant restructure of its Asia network, Qantas has announced a number of updates, including the suspension of its Sydney-Shanghai flights and the introduction of a new route from Brisbane to Manila.

Sydney-Shanghai service suspended due to low demand Starting July 28, 2024Due to low demand, Qantas will suspend flights to Shanghai. After a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline resumed Sydney-Shanghai service in October last year, but the expected recovery in demand failed to materialize. Qantas is committed to monitoring the market closely and plans to resume service once demand picks up. For customers affected by the suspension, Qantas is offering a full refund or rebooking options to alternative flights. The airline ensures continuous connectivity to Shanghai and other Chinese destinations through its Hong Kong flights with connections to partner airlines.

Redirect resources to meet rising demand in Asia The aircraft, which previously served the Shanghai route, will now be used to strengthen Qantas’ presence in other Asian destinations that are experiencing increased demand or offering new tourism opportunities.

New direct flights from Brisbane to Manila Out of October 28, 2024From now on, Qantas will operate a new international route from Brisbane to Manila using Airbus A330 aircraft four times a week. This marks the airline’s return to the route after more than a decade, adding over 100,000 seats annually between Australia and the Philippines.

Increased flights to Singapore and India Qantas will increase its flights to Singapore by around 10%, adding over 2,500 seats weekly. Sydney-Singapore flights will now increase from 14 to 17 return flights per week December 11, 2024while service between Brisbane and Singapore will increase from seven to nine return flights per week October 27, 2024. These changes aim to improve connectivity with the daily Qantas Singapore-London service and reduce travel time to Heathrow. Additionally, the Sydney-Bengaluru route will expand from five weekly flights to daily flights during the peak holiday period from mid-December 2024 to the end of March 2025, providing over 12,000 additional seats over four months.

Comments from the CEO of Qantas International Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace highlighted the airline’s commitment to aligning its services with customer needs. “Post-COVID, the travel landscape has changed and we are adapting our network accordingly,” Wallace said. “While we are reducing lower demand routes such as Shanghai, we are pleased to offer new options such as the Brisbane-Manila route and more flights to Singapore and Bengaluru to improve our customers’ travel choice and convenience.” Tickets for the new and additional flights are available on the Qantas website and through travel agents. Bookings for the Brisbane-Manila flights are expected to open soon. *All new services and extensions are subject to government and regulatory approval. This media story was created to provide a comprehensive overview of Qantas’ network updates and the strategic decisions behind them. It underlines the airline’s responsiveness to market demands and its commitment to offering its customers improved travel options.