The airline has announced a dramatic increase in its international network putting downward pressure on fares but pilots aren’t happy.
Qantas has released the latest rendition of its Feels Like Home campaign featuring a real-life reunion between an Aussie mum and her overseas-based son.
The additional capacity will be made possible through the return of more Qantas aircraft to service, new aircraft joining the fleet and an arrangement with Finnair to operate two A330s on Qantas routes.
The deal will see Finnair pilots and cabin crew used on routes from Sydney to Bangkok and Shanghai, to the dismay of Qantas pilots.
Australian and International Pilots Association president Tony Lucas said the move to “outsource the Spirit of Australia was shocking and bitterly disappointing”.
“It beggars belief that Qantas is outsourcing the Spirit of Australia while simultaneously converting two of our own A330 passenger aircraft into freighters,” said Captain Lucas.
“The decision to wet lease illustrates the failures of the fleet planning processes of the last five years and certainly recent decisions made during the pandemic recovery.
“Not only is it disappointing for our hardworking and dedicated pilots but it is also disappointing for loyal Qantas passengers.”
Across the network, the increase meant Qantas would return to pre-pandemic international capacity by March 2024, up from 44 per cent a year ago, and 84 per cent today.
The airline said a workforce of 2400 pilots and cabin crew would power the operation, with a further 300 people needed by the end of the year.
Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said the rebound in demand for international travel since borders reopened had been “incredibly strong” and the network boost would add hundreds of thousands of seats in time for the Australian summer holiday period.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce says the rebound in demand for international travel since borders reopened was ‘incredibly strong’. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard
“While airlines globally are working to restore capacity to meet demand, there is still a mismatch between supply and demand for international flying. But with more of our aircraft back in the air, new 787s joining our fleet and our contract with Finnair, we’ve got more seats for our customers and more opportunity for Qantas crew as we increase our own flying,” said Mr Joyce.
“We know our customers are looking for great value and this additional capacity will also put downward pressure on fares.”
New routes to be operated from October 29 include Brisbane-Wellington and Brisbane-Honiara, using Embraer E190 jets.
Qantas will return to Shanghai from Sydney for the first time in three years with daily A330 flights, and flights to Japan from Australian cities will jump from 14 to 28 a week.
A new Sydney-Auckland-New York route due to start in June, with increase from three to four times a week in October, and Melbourne-LA flights will rise from daily to nine a week with more A380s flying.
Qantas is also preparing to resume San Francisco flights next week, and will restart seasonal flights to Rome next month, as well as Melbourne-Hong Kong.
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, Qantas flight QF100 takes off from Kingsford Smith International airport as part of Qantas 100th Birthday celebrations on November 16, 2020. Photo: David Gray/ JM/ Getty. Images for Destination New South Wales/Qantas.
Brisbane Airport Corporation welcomed the new flights to Wellington and Honiara, and a boost to capacity into Tokyo with Qantas to fly daily into Narita Airport from November 26.
Executive general manager of aviation Ryan Both said the Japanese market was very important to Queensland.
“This expansion by Qantas will not only mean tourists for Brisbane but also the Gold and Sunshine Coasts with 75 per cent of the state’s international visitors arriving via Brisbane,” Mr Both said.