Qantas Adds 250,000 Seats, Selects Airbus A380 for Sydney-Johannesburg Route in 2024 Expansion

Qantas is ramping up its international operations with the addition of more aircraft. This expansion will result in increased seating and flight frequencies to several destinations including: New York JFK, Los Angeles, Johannesburg, and Bali. The airline currently operates at 80% of its capacity compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, by March 2024, it aims to be operating at full capacity.

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In the past few months, Qantas has incorporated three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners into its fleet. The airline also anticipates the return of several Airbus A380s once post-storage maintenance tasks are finalized. Given these additions and increased flight schedules, the airline projects that by July 2024, its operations will surpass pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the rising demand for travel.

«Introducing hundreds of thousands of additional seats across our routes will benefit travelers planning their next international journey. We understand the need for value, and this augmented capacity should lead to more competitive pricing,» remarked Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas International.

New services

Qantas is set to add over 250,000 seats on its routes to and from Australia. Notable changes include:

• Sydney – Bali: Starting October, the Airbus A330 will supersede the Boeing 737-800, providing flat-bed seats in Business Class.
• Sydney – Auckland – New York: The frequency will increase to daily flights from its current four times a week, starting August 2024.
• Sydney – Johannesburg: From July 2024, Qantas will deploy the Airbus A380 on this route, essentially doubling the capacity during high demand seasons.
• Melbourne – Los Angeles: From July 2024, a nearly 20% capacity increase is anticipated, with the addition of more A380 services.
• Sydney – Los Angeles: The frequency will rise from 8 to 9 weekly flights from July 2024, utilizing a mix of 787 and A380 aircraft.

Other network updates

Qantas remains committed to its previously declared one million seat expansion plan for the coming year, comprising new routes, upgraded aircraft, and enhanced frequencies to sought-after destinations.

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Some previously announced route additions are:

• Sydney-Shanghai: Resuming in late October, this marks Qantas’s re-entry into Mainland China after a hiatus of over three years.
• Brisbane-Honiara and Brisbane-Wellington: Both routes are scheduled to commence at the end of October.

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