Qantas ups the ante at the pointy end

Qantas is adding extra oomph at the pointy end of its planes.

Customers travelling in first class on the Australian flag carrier can now expect elevated dining options, exclusive Aesop amenity kits, premium Bollinger champagne and redesigned pyjamas as the airline introduces a range of enhancements to its A380 premium cabin.

Rolling out across the airline's international network from this month, the enhancements are described in a media release as "part of the airline's ongoing investment in customer experience and have been shaped by customer insights and inflight trials".

Food will be a priority with Qantas creative director of food and beverage Neil Perry serving up signature dishes from his star Margaret restaurant in Sydney, alongside a range of new menu items featuring Australian producers from across the country.

Think dishes like tartare of yellowfin tuna with gochujang, toasted sesame and baby cos; roasted Wollemi duck with orange caramel, crisp Chinese greens, golden sesame and jasmine rice, and crumbed Margra lamb cutlets with shaved fennel, pine nuts, rocket, salsa verde and lemon.

The new First dining experience will be paired with award-winning Australian wines, a wider selection of cocktails and a signature pour of Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 alongside Pommery Cuvée Louise 2006.

New Aesop amenity kits in three exclusive collectable designs created for Qantas First will be offered to customers alongside the introduction of new navy Qantas-designed pyjamas and loafer-style slippers for inflight comfort.



Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the updates reflect the airline's ongoing investment in delivering a premium experience across its international network.

“Our customers fly First because they value the quality in every detail," he said. "On longer flights, a fine dining experience, premium amenities and complete comfort really matter, so we've focused on improving each of these areas.

“Our incredible cabin crew have been undergoing inflight trials and an intensive training program. It is great to welcome new premium partners onboard and we look forward to delivering this new experience for our First customers."

First customers will be able to opt to dine on demand throughout the journey to allow for maximum rest.

Qantas First is available on services operated on A380 aircraft to destinations including Singapore, London, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and Dallas. The enhancements are expected to have been rolled out across the network by mid 2026.

Switch that power bank off now!

Wanting to use a power bank during your flight on Qantas or Virgin Australia?

No go from next month after a series of incidents - including fires - on several carriers.

Australia’s big two airline groups are to ban the inflight use of all power banks, news hub Travel Mole reports. 

Virgin will start imposing restrictions from December 1 with Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar imposing similar restrictions effective from December 15.

Virgin says it will allow Ino more than two power banks to be carried - and they must be accessible and within sight during the flight.

They cannot be used or charged, and high-power devices (above) must get advance airline approval.

“Globally, more lithium battery-powered devices are now being carried by travellers, and while these items are generally safe, this move will minimise any potential risks,” Virgin COO Chris Snook said.

While power bank use is banned, the airlines said charging devices will still be permitted using in-seat charging ports where available.

Where available being the key.

Several international carriers including Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines have banned the use of power banks on board.

Image: Maksim Chernyshev, Scop.io 

Qantas chooses Adelaide as technology hub

Qantas has chosen Adelaide as the location for a new technology hub opening next year.

The Australian flag carrier is establishing a new Product Innovation Centre in Adelaide to accelerate the delivery of “intuitive, world-leading digital experiences” for the millions of customers who travel with the airline each year.

The Centre is projected to be home to more than 420 highly-skilled technology roles over the next three years, bringing critical innovation capability in-house, the airline says.

The new purpose-built technology and innovation centre, which is being supported by the South Australian Government, will be based in Adelaide’s CBD and open in March 2026.

It will become the home of the airline’s technology product development teams, where product managers, digital experience designers, software engineers, and data and AI specialists will come together to cha ge how customers interact with Qantas.

Qantas is also partnering with Adelaide University to build graduate recruitment pathways directly into the Centre, creating opportunities for South Australian students to help shape the future of travel.

The centre will enable the airline to bring more critical innovation and technology skills in-house, supporting major initiatives, from the growth of its domestic and international network to new customer experiences and AI tools that help frontline teams serve customers better. 

For customers, Qantas says the centre will help deliver better digital experiences at every stage of the journey. From enhanced app functionality, seamless check-in to smarter baggage tracking. It will also develop AI-powered tools that help when travel doesn’t go to plan.

Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said the centre would transform how the airline delivers customer experiences.

“Innovation has been a core part of the airline’s DNA for more than 100 years,”Hudson said. “This centre marks a new chapter in our efforts to reimagine the travel experience for the millions of customers who fly with us.

“Technology and AI is critical to lifting the customer experience at every part of the journey, from booking to inflight and baggage collection. This new hub will bring the best Australian skilled talent together to build digital products and experiences that make travel easier and more personalised.

“Adelaide gives us access to world-class universities, a thriving tech community, and the ability to scale our in-house capability. It’s an investment in Australian innovation that will deliver real benefits for our customers.”

South Australian Premier the Hon Peter Malinauskas said:
“This historic agreement with Qantas will help supercharge growth in new highly skilled, high tech jobs.

“Through strategic partnerships under this agreement, including the collaboration between Adelaide University and the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML), we are building a strong pipeline of talent with advanced AI and digital skillsets. 

“This initiative will ensure South Australia remains at the forefront of emerging technologies and future workforce opportunities.”

The new Qantas Product Innovation Centre is the latest in a series of investments by the national carrier in South Australia, including the recently opened lounge precinct at Adelaide Airport and the return of international flights from Adelaide to Auckland which launched earlier this month.

Qantas to offer flyers more legroom

 

Sick of feeling cramped when you fly?

Qantas today unveiled a new cabin product that it promises will offer a better experience.

The Australian flag carrier is "enhancing the on-board experience across its domestic and short-haul international fleet" with the introduction of Qantas Economy Plus, which is designed to give customers more choice with extra legroom seating, priority boarding and priority access to overhead baggage space.

Qantas says the Economy Plus seats will give customers up to 40% more legroom.

The new product will be available from February, 2026, on the Airbus A321XLR, A220 and Boeing 737 aircraft which operate on the airline’s domestic network as well as to New Zealand and Pacific Islands.

High-tiered frequent flyers will receive complimentary access to Qantas Economy Plus.

The launch comes as Qantas continues a fleet renewal program, which includes 48 next generation A321XLR aircraft on order.

The first two A321XLR aircraft began flying on the domestic network in September, with a third set to arrive before the end of the year.

The airline will begin reconfiguration of its 737 aircraft in December.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said Qantas Economy Plus will give customers greater flexibility with how they choose to travel and provide additional value for frequent flyers.

“This is an evolution of our economy offering and delivers more choice for our customers while recognising our most loyal frequent flyers with expanded benefits, in the areas we know they value the most,” Hudson said.

“We’re always looking for ways to enhance the onboard experience and maximise comfort for our customers. We believe this new seating product will be popular with our corporate and leisure travellers when it launches next year.”

Platinum members and above will receive complimentary access to Qantas Economy Plus when making their flight booking and Gold members will receive complimentary access at check-in, subject to availability.

Qantas Economy Plus will also be available for purchase on Qantas’ 737, A321XLR and A220 fleets, including on any short-haul international routes they operate, from February 2026 and pricing will be announced closer to the launch.

Image: Qantas

Qantas links Adelaide with Auckland

 

Qantas has launched its first international service from Adelaide in more than a decade, with direct flights to Auckland taking off this morning.

The route unlocks adds more than 30,000 seats between the two cities, boosting tourism in both directions.

The seasonal route will operate until early May four times per week using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, featuring complimentary wifi. 

It comes as the Australian national carrier announced a major sale across its international network yesterday, including one way economy fares from Adelaide to Auckland from $359 for travel between February and May 2026.

Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace said it was a significant day for the airline and South Australians.

“Today we’re celebrating a major milestone for Qantas and South Australians with the return of international flying from Adelaide.

“South Australians can now reach New York in around 21 hours and with just one stop via Auckland on our QF3 service, while the new route also opens up greater opportunities for inbound connections throughout South Australia and beyond through our domestic network.

“We’ve seen significant growth across our international network over the past 18 months and we’re pleased to bring more of that choice and connectivity to South Australia.“

“We’re excited to welcome Qantas’ international return to Adelaide," said Adelaide Airport managing director  Brenton Cox. 

"This is a much-anticipated milestone, which helps meet the growing customer demand for travel between Adelaide and New Zealand. Along with a direct service to Auckland, the service opens up a one-stop connection with New York.”

Tourism New Zealand CEO Rene de Monchy was similarly enthusiastic, saying: “It’s fantastic to welcome back Qantas’ direct flights from Adelaide to Aotearoa New Zealand. With 1.47 million Australians visiting New Zealand over the past year, these direct services play a vital role in strengthening connectivity and making trans-Tasman travel even more seamless.

“We’re excited to continue welcoming South Australians to New Zealand, now with even more travel options that make it easier than ever to experience the unique magic of a 100% Pure New Zealand holiday.”

Qantas currently operates nearly 280 services per week from Adelaide to more than 14 destinations around Australia.

Qantas is fooling no-one with its positive spin

We keep hearing from new Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson about how the Australian flag carrier has turned the corner and is better catering to its customers.

I see no evidence of that.

Arrogance and complacency still rule on the evidence of my most recent flight.

Qantas today reported massive profits, and an intention to buy 20 new aircraft.

Hudson was full of bravado, talking of the airline “spoiling” customers.

“For everyone across the Qantas Group, this year has been all about delivery," she said. "While we are pleased with the progress we are making, we remain focused on further improving our performance and continuing to deliver for our customers, people and shareholders.

“Continuing strong demand across all market segments, combined with our dual brand strategy, helped the Group grow earnings. Qantas and Jetstar carried four million more customers during the year, while our loyalty business grew as frequent flyers engaged with the program more than ever before."

I call bull.

On Tuesday night I had a flight from Melbourne to Hobart with Qantas. I checked in online after arriving from Canada.

After struggling to get the self-service baggage machine to issue a tag, I finally was able to attract the attention of a Qantas staffer - there are no longer many of them around - to resolve the issue.

Then my phone started pinging in the departure lounge.

First message: 19:55 flight pushed back to 20:35. Instructions on how to get a refund, but no apology.

Second message: Flight will now depart at 21:00. This time an apology for the disruption.

Third message: Flight will now depart and 21:20. They look forward to seeing me on board.

The issue was that a flight from Canberra was late. But they started lying. The board showed that boarding was set to start before that flight from the capital had even landed. Clearly wrong. I pointed that out to the staffer at the departure gate. She admitted it was wrong, but it was never corrected.

The new air crew for the flight - obviously used to delays - hung around laughing and joking. No sign of a serious apology. No offer of a meal voucher. No compensation. Handing out some bottles of water? No chance.

It is as if staff have been formally instructed not to apologise for failures.

There were some free cheese and biscuits during the flight. Thanks guys!

The work ethic at Qantas appears to be as rotten as its defences against Cyber attacks, no matter what PR spin the highly-paid Ms Hudson seeks to put on it.

We finally took off just in time to land in Hobart as the airport was closing. There were still some cleaners around. And, fortunately, the baggage handlers had not checked off.

My Qantas experience came after four long-haul (12+ hour sectors) with Qatar Airways. All of those were early, or on time, and the air crew solicitous despite the flights being full.

Qantas is being left behind by global rivals but apparently doesn't realise it.

And it often escapes scrutiny because a lot of travel writers want to stay on the free flights bandwagon and will ignore its many faults.

Such a shame. It used to offer a great product and top-notch service.

I'm sure the shareholders are happy with the record profits. We plebs just better get used to the falling standards.

UPDATE: Unions representing over 30,000 Qantas employees have condemned the airline’s corporate greed, saying the $2.4 billion underlying profit margin is built on the back of an underpaid, disrespected workforce, and it’s long overdue workers received their fair share.

Six unions, including the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU), the Australian Services Union (ASU) and the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA) say the 28% leap in net profits come in the face of illegal sackings, threats to workers, cruel bargaining tactics, and a blanket refusal to negotiate fairly.

Time and time again, Qantas shows consistently how it puts profits before people and where the company’s true priorities lie. Its appalling track record of price gouging and phantom flights towards its customers is equally reflected towards its workforce.

Last week, Qantas was fined a historic $90 million for illegally outsourcing 1,800 ground workers, and was criticised by judge Michael Lee as an “aggressive” company driven by greed. Qantas employees were sent an apology by Hudson, claiming the airline was‘committed to building a workplace where workers feel supported, respected, and valued’. 

Just one day later, in bargaining with the Qantas Engineers’ Alliance (made up of the AMWU, AWU and ETU), Qantas threatened to remove the back pay of more than a thousand engineering workers, sending through a rejected offer back to vote. 

Qantas engineers remain the lowest paid in their industry, having experienced multiple wage freezes over the years. Qantas engineers are fighting to have their skills behind Qantas’ world-leading safety record valued and recognised.

Similarly, thousands of ASU members in Qantas’ service sector remain one of the lowest paid at the airline. Workers across check-in, call centres and freight operations have been seeking structural changes at Qantas to address pay disparity for its largely feminised services-orientated workforce. Meanwhile, thousands of FAAA members working in cabin crew have been locked in bargaining.

Bad news, then good for Qantas

There has been mixed news for Qantas, Australia’s largest airline, which been ordered to pay an huge penalty for illegally sacking more than 1800 ground staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Qantas will have to pay out $90 million dollars for flouting labour laws, the Federal Court ruled. 

At the same time, subsidiary QantasLink has announced it will commence flying to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands for the first time, with flights set to take off from November 3.

As part of a five-year partnership with the Australian Government that includes both passenger and dedicated freight services, the new flights will provide essential connections for the more than 2,500 residents across both territories, supporting local communities, government operations, tourism and freight.

Available for booking from today, the new services will also make it easier for Australians to reach the remote islands through Qantas’ extensive international and domestic network.

QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan says the airline is delighted to serve the remote Australian territories.

“We’re proud to have been selected by the Australian Government to provide these essential services to the Indian Ocean Territories,” she said. “QantasLink has a long history connecting remote communities across Australia, and we’re committed to delivering a reliable and warm service to customers.

“We look forward to supporting these island communities and helping maintain their vital connection to mainland Australia, while also making it easier for Australians to discover the incredible natural beauty and unique cultures of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.”

The services will operate twice weekly using Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. Flight time is approximately 5 hours from Perth to both destinations.

Qantas hit by cyber attack

Qantas has hit data turbulence after “a cyber incident”.

Around six million customers of the Australian airline have potentially been affected after the attack occurred in one of its contact centres in Manila, impacting customer data. The dangers of outsourcing to save money. 

“We understand this will be concerning for customers,” the airline said in a media statement. “We are currently contacting customers to make them aware of the incident, apologise and provide details on the support available.”

The incident occurred when a cyber criminal targeted a call centre and gained access to a third party customer servicing platform.

There is no impact to Qantas’ operations or the safety of the airline.

Importantly, credit card details, personal financial information and passport details are not held in this system, Qantas said. No frequent flyer accounts were compromised nor have passwords, PIN numbers or log in details been accessed.

Qantas has notified the Australian Cyber Security Centre and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Given the criminal nature of this incident, the Australian Federal Police has also been notified.

Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said: “We sincerely apologise to our customers and we recognise the uncertainty this will cause. Our customers trust us with their personal information and we take that responsibility seriously.

“We are contacting our customers today and our focus is on providing them with the necessary support.

“We are working closely with the Federal Government’s National Cyber Security Coordinator, the Australian Cyber Security Centre and independent specialised cyber security experts.”

Bizarrely, Hudson later declined to talk the media. Not a good look. 

Qantas boosts number of peak season flights to New Zealand

Qantas has announced more flights between Australia and New Zealand, with the airline boosting its capacity across the Tasman by up to 20% during December 2025 and January 2026.

The airline says it will have around 60,000 extra seats between the two countries during the peak summer holiday period.

Sydney to Auckland will see up to six additional flights per week, a 16% per cent increase, while Sydney to Christchurch will see up to seven additional flights per week, a 47% increase and Sydney-Wellington up to five additional flights per week, a 31% increase.

Flights from Melbourne and Brisbane will also see significant boosts.

The increases will see Qantas operate more than 3.3 million seats across the Tasman between January 2025 and January 2026, supporting tourism growth in both New Zealand and Australia.

In addition, Qantas will soon introduce its Boeing 787 Dreamliner on flights between Auckland and Brisbane, bringing premium economy to the route and increasing premium seat choices for customers by up to 80%.

The 787 Dreamliner service will initially operate three times per week from August 2025 and increase to daily from October 2025.

“This year has already seen huge growth in New Zealand for Qantas Group, from the announcement of two new Qantas routes to the refurbishment of our Auckland lounge well underway and the upcoming launch of three more new trans-Tasman routes for Jetstar," said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.

“Today we’re so pleased to offer even more Tasman flying for customers, which will mean Qantas will have the most frequency between Australia and New Zealand at one of the busiest travel periods of the year. "

Go west. Qantas unveils new international routes

Qantas is spreading its wings westward with an announcement that two new routes will join its international network, with flights from Perth to Auckland and Johannesburg set to take off from December 2025

The routes will unlock more connections for Australians across the airline’s international and domestic network which now spans more than 100 destinations around the world.

The new services add to the growth of Qantas’ western hub, adding over 155,000 seats in and out of Perth each year and is timely given the large number of South Africans and New Zealanders living in Western Australia. 

The flights have been made possible by funding allocated from the Federal Government to Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry to deliver additional border services at airports, Qantas said in a statement. 

The funding will enable Perth Airport to invest in additional staffing, equipment and facilities that increase border and biosecurity capacity and in turn allow the airport to host more international flights.

“We’re so excited to be launching two new international routes, unlocking more options and greater choice for all Australians to connect to the world through our growing network," said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace:

.
“By connecting Perth directly with Auckland and Johannesburg, we’re supporting the local economy by opening valuable inbound tourism opportunities for Western Australia, as well as generating new jobs for the state. These routes also enable further growth throughout Australia with connections across our domestic network.

“Our new Perth to Auckland route offers a convenient one-stop connection for West Australians to New York via Auckland on our popular QF3 service while the new direct flight to Johannesburg provides a vital connection for customers in Perth to visit popular cities like Cape Town through our partnership with Airlink."

Perth Airport Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer Kate Holsgrove said: “The launch of two new Qantas international services to Perth is great news for Western Australia.

“Perth is a dynamic, expanding hub with incredible growth opportunities and we remain focused on working with our airline partners to grow aviation connectivity to create more opportunities for Western Australia’s tourism industry and provide more options for Western Australians to travel."

Both routes will operate three times per week on a Qantas A330 aircraft with 27 business class seats in 1-2-1 configuration, each featuring direct aisle access and converting into a lie-flat bed, and 224 economy seats.

Qantas marks 90 years of international flying

Qantas is today celebrating 90 years of international flying, marking a major milestone in the evolution of the aviation industry and nine decades of connecting Australia with the world.

On 17 April 1935, Qantas operated Australia’s first international passenger flight from Brisbane to Singapore, carrying two customers on a DH86 aircraft.

The flight took three and a half days with 16 stops along the way.

Almost a century later, over 273 million customers have flown across the Qantas international network which now spans 56 routes to 34 destinations in 25 countries around the world.

Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace said the anniversary is a proud moment in the national carrier’s history.

“Our first international flight took over three days to reach Singapore from Brisbane, carrying just a few passengers and making more than 15 stops” he said.

“Fast forward to today and we’re flying thousands of passengers daily on nonstop services between Australia to Singapore and over 7.6 million customers travelled on our broader international network in 2024 - a powerful reflection of how far international travel has come.

“We’re incredibly proud of our history, but equally excited about what’s ahead. This year will see more growth across the Qantas international network, with the launch of flights from Melbourne to Honolulu next month and Sydney to Sapporo later in the year.

“We also look forward to the arrival of our new A350 aircraft, which will reshape what’s possible in ultra-long-haul travel with the introduction of our Project Sunrise non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York.”

To mark the occasion, Qantas is giving Australians a unique look at its history by unveiling a collection of historical content from its official archives, providing a fascinating snapshot of the aviation industry over the past 90 years.

Qantas will also unveil three limited-edition amenity kits for business customers featuring art from its historic archives. The amenity kits will roll out across the Qantas network in the coming months.

# The current average flying time between Brisbane and Singapore is 8 hours on a Qantas Airbus A330.

Qantas rebuild delivers massive profits

You know all those complaints about Qantas, and angry people threatening to boycott the airline?

It has made zero impact on the Qantas Group bottom line. 

Qantas today announced an Underlying Profit Before Tax of $1.39 billion, an increase of 11%, and a Statutory Profit After Tax of $923 million, an increase of 6%, for the six months ended December 31, 2024.

The Australian flagship airline said the performance was driven by the strength of the Group’s dual brand strategy with demand for travel remaining strong across all customer segments. 

Qantas and Jetstar’s domestic and international businesses delivered increased profitability, carrying almost 10% more customers.

Premium and corporate travel remained strong for Qantas while Jetstar carried a record number of customers in a high cost of living environment, with around one in three passengers flying on a ticket that cost less than $100.

The Group continues to invest in renewing its fleet with 11 new aircraft and five mid-life aircraft arriving in the half. 

The investment in new aircraft will be complemented by a significant cabin overhaul across existing aircraft to improve the flying experience for customers, Qantas said in a statement. 

New investment announced today will see 42 Qantas Boeing 737 aircraft fitted with new cabins including next generation business and economy seats and larger overhead lockers. 

“The Group’s performance highlights the benefits of having both a premium and a low fares airline and a strong loyalty program," said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson.

“With a growing fleet of new aircraft, Jetstar went from strength to strength delivering a better experience for customers and an improved financial performance. Importantly, Jetstar was able to help more Australians take a holiday for less.

“Qantas domestic revenue grew strongly and, like Jetstar, will see significant benefits as its fleet renewal ramps up, starting with the arrival of the A321XLR in the coming months.

“We’re seeing progress from the investments we are making for our customers and people but we know there’s more work to do to consistently deliver in the moments that matter. This is a key part of rebuilding trust and continues to be our focus."

Qatar-Virgin deal set to get go ahead

The airline landscape in Australia is set for a major re-set with the consumer watchdog proposing to grant authorisation to Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways which will allow them to engage in co-operative conduct under an integrated alliance for five years.

Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways are seeking authorisation to engage in an integrated alliance where Virgin Australia, in partnership with Qatar Airways, will commence 28 new weekly return services between Doha and Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Under the proposed arrangements, Virgin Australia would use Qatar Airways’ aircraft and crew to operate the new services. This is known in the aviation industry as ‘wet lease’ arrangements.

The ACCC said today that it considers that the proposed co-operative conduct is likely to result in public benefits and is unlikely to result in any public detriment. 

Which will likely infuriate Virgin competitor Qantas.

"We consider that the proposed co-operative conduct would likely result in several public benefits including providing enhanced products and services for air travellers which would include increased choice of international flights, with additional connectivity, convenience and loyalty program benefits for consumers,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

The new air services are subject to final regulatory approvals by the ACCC and other government bodies. 

The ACCC is now seeking feedback on this draft determination before it makes a final decision.

The ACCC granted interim authorisation to Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways on November 29 to enable them to commence marketing and selling the new Australia-Doha services.

When granting interim authorisation, the ACCC accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from both airlines which ensures that if any of the necessary final regulatory approvals are not granted, then customers who have booked the proposed new services will be given the option of a refund or re-accommodation on a suitable alternative flight at no additional charge and would be compensated for any reasonably foreseeable costs.

A number of interested parties have since raised concerns with the ACCC that the proposed co-operative conduct would circumvent Australian workforce laws and regulations, and that the lack of time limits on the use of Qatar-based crew to operate the new services will have negative implications for the Australian aviation workforce.

“We consider that Virgin Australia is unlikely to commence operating long-haul international services between Australia and the Middle East on a stand-alone basis in the next five years,” Brakey said.

“In those circumstances, we do not consider that there is likely to be a material detrimental impact on the Australian aviation workforce as a result of the conduct.”

Under the proposed arrangements Velocity Frequent Flyer members will continue to be able to earn and redeem Velocity points on Singapore Airlines operated services globally, including to and from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

Virgin Australia’s arrangements with South African Airways and Virgin Atlantic would be unchanged. 

The ACCC is seeking submissions in response to the draft determination by March 7 before making its final determination.

Qantas flights to link directly with Japanese ski resorts

Good news for snow lovers from Qantas with the unveiling of a new seasonal air route between Sydney and Sapporo - which becomes the 100th destination in the Qantas network.

Qantas today announced direct seasonal flights from Sydney to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, providing Australians with the only non-stop connection between the two cities and catering to the growing demand for travel to Japan’s snowfields.

Flights will commence just in time for the peak ski season with services to operate three times per week from December 15, 2025, to March 28, 2026 served by Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Flights will depart Sydney in the morning and arrive at Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport early in the evening.

The flights will save Australians several hours compared to existing one-stop options and enable same-day travel to popular ski resorts Niseko, Furano, Rusutsu and Kiroro.

Skiers will also be able to enjoy a morning on the slopes before departing for Sydney in the evening.

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is renowned for its dry powder snow, vibrant village centres and famous hot spring towns like Noboribetsu and Jozankei. The new Qantas flights will also coincide with the Sapporo Snow Festival.

Return economy fares from Sydney to Sapporo will be available at www.qantas.com.

The new Sapporo service marks the airline’s fourth route to Japan, complementing double daily flights from Sydney to Tokyo Haneda and daily services from Melbourne and Brisbane to Tokyo Narita.

“We know Sapporo is an extremely popular winter destination for Aussies who love the snow and we’re excited to make it even easier for them to reach Hokkaido’s world-class ski resorts with a direct fight from Sydney," says Qantas CEO for International Cam Wallace.

“These new flights will save passengers hours of travel time compared to connecting in Tokyo or other cities and give them more time to enjoy on the slopes.

“We last flew to Sapporo in early-2020 and had extremely positive feedback from customers, so we’re looking forward to operating this route again.”

How Elon Musk is inconveniencing Qantas customers

Multi-billionaire Elon Musk is the man to blame for delaying multiple Qantas flights to South Africa.

Flights operated by the Australian flag carrier have been disrupted by falling space junk.

Qantas says its Sydney to Johannesburg flights are being delayed because of debris entering the atmosphere in part of the southern Indian Ocean, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The flights cross a section of the southern Indian Ocean that Musk's SpaceX operation uses for re-entry into the atmosphere.

Qantas says it has had "repeated" delays in recent weeks to avoid deliberately decoupled parts of rockets as they return to earth.

Qantas says it gets little notice of this from SpaceX that it is unable to reschedule in advance.

Qantas operations centre boss Ben Holland told Travel Weekly that the unpredictability of the re-entries poses significant challenges for flight scheduling.

“Over the past few weeks we’ve had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to advice received from the US Government regarding the re-entry of SpaceX rockets over an extensive area of the Southern Indian Ocean,” he said.

“While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches have moved around at late notice which has meant we’ve had to delay some flights just prior to departure. Our teams notify customers of changes to their flight as soon as we know it will be impacted.”

South African Airways flights have also reportedly been impacted by SpaceX’s operations. 

Arrogant Americans thinking they own the planet. Nothing new there. 

New scam targets unsuspecting Qantas customers

There is a new scam that targets unsuspecting Qantas flyers.

If you receive an email with an image like the one above from a formresponse.com email then you are advised to immediately delete it and block the address.

Whatever you do make sure you do not click on the link, which will contain malware designed to redirect you to a URL aimed at stealing your information.

My wife received an authentic-looking email this morning, saying that: "Qantas has sent you a Gift Coupon. Use it today or whenever you like, it never expires!

"From: Qantas Gift Coupon. Value: 99.5 AUD.

"This gift coupon can be redeemed only once. Please do not share the link with others. Choose your preferred method for redeeming the coupon."

The dodgy email address was one clue; as was the fact that no name or frequent flyer number was used. The way the dollar sum was written also does not look like it was written by an Australian.

This gift coupon can be redeemed only once. Please do not share the link with others Choose your preferred method for redeeming the coupon.

Newsletter TravelWeekly.com.au reports that Qantas has warned against similar scams. 

“From time to time we are made aware of email scams and social media posts that claim to be authentic Qantas communications," the airline says on its website.

 

" These may ask customers to visit an external site and download a file or confirm customer details.

“We will never ask customers to click a link to download a file about bookings from a website, including our own. We send important documents that relate to your booking as Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files that you can download directly.”

Qantas unveils improved economy class seats for international flights

Qantas has unveiled new economy class seats with larger entertainment screens that will feature across the airline’s Airbus A330s - which operate international flights to Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.

The mult-imillion dollar investment in cabin upgrades will be rolled out across 10 A330-200 aircraft as part of what Qantas says is a "major refurbishment program".

The upgrades include:

# Installing the brand-new economy seats that have been designed with extra customer comfort for Qantas’ Project Sunrise ultra-long haul flights.

# 4K OLED 13.3” entertainment touchscreens for economy with the latest generation user interface (20% larger than the existing screen).

# USB-C fast charging and Bluetooth audio connectivity for economy which allow users to use their own headphones.

Other key elements of the A330 cabin upgrade program include new mood lighting and the replacement of all curtains and carpets.

The existing business suites with fully-flat beds will remain on the aircraft.

Work on the first A330 is expected to start in mid-2025 in Qantas’ Brisbane maintenance facility with the first refurbished aircraft entering service by the end of the calendar year. The refurbishment program is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the multi-million dollar investment in existing A330s cabins would upgrade the experience for both passengers and crew as more new international aircraft progressively join the fleet over the coming years.

“We’ve used our fleet renewal program to completely rethink the inflight experience and these cabin upgrades mean we can bring next-generation features and designs to our existing aircraft,” Wallace said.

“Customers can look forward to brand new economy seats that have been specially created to maximise comfort and provide features that our customers want for international travel. They’re the same seats that will feature on our ultra long haul A350-1000ULR aircraft, so it will be a preview of the Project Sunrise flying experience.”

Qantas has also started its international wifi roll out across the A330 fleet. Fast and free wifi is expected to be available for Qantas flights some routes in Asia on wifi enabled A330 aircraft from December this year.

Qantas unveils more flights but chops Seoul

 

Qantas continues to grow its international flight network, but is chopping flights to Seoul, the capital of South Korea, the airline says.

 

The Australian flag carrier has announced changes to key routes to the US, Asia and the Pacific, including launching a new route to Palau. 

From February 2025, the national carrier will add around 220,000 seats to its international network over 12 months compared to its current schedule. 

This is made possible by the launch of its new Brisbane-Palau route, along with the return of two Airbus A380s following maintenance and cabin modifications, as well as the arrival of more next-generation A220 aircraft for QantasLink.

The changes will see Qantas boost capacity to the US by 13%. 

Customers will benefit from the return of the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to Brisbane, with the option of premium economy and more seats when travelling to Los Angeles and Auckland.

Qantas will add Palau to its map for the first time, operating weekly flights from Brisbane to the Pacific Island with its 737 aircraft.

The service, to be known as the Palau Paradise Express will operate as part of a contract awarded to Qantas by the Federal Government and will help maintain strong trade and tourism links between Australia and Palau. 

QantasLink’s new A220 aircraft will make its debut on the international network when the airline commences flying between Darwin and Singapore in March next year. 

Qantas will cease flying between Sydney and Seoul from mid-June next year, while Jetstar will increase flights from four per week to daily. 

“We’re so excited to be offering our customers more than 220,000 additional seats on our network, a new international destination, and our brand-new A220 aircraft for our Singapore-Darwin flights, which will be the first of its kind to operate out of Singapore," says Qantas Group International CEO Cam Wallace.

“We’re also looking forward to seeing more of our A380s return to the skies and offering more premium seats for customers to book to some of our popular international destinations.

“As part of our historic fleet renewal program, these changes are about having the right aircraft on the right route and responding to growing customer demand.

“Qantas launched flights to Seoul after the pandemic, and now that demand has normalised, it’s grown substantially as a leisure market, opening up a great opportunity for Jetstar to increase its frequencies and allow Qantas to redeploy its aircraft to other routes where we are seeing strong demand."

Jetstar delivers quality service. Twice

 

Jetstar can be much maligned - but you get what you pay for and know the potential issues when you fly with them. 

I booked a Melbourne-Hobart flight for yesterday, leaving plenty of time for my return flight from Vietnam on Vietjet to be delayed - or for me to be caught in queues at Melbourne Airport.

Neither happened. My Vietjet flight landed early - and there was no line at all to go through customs. 

My ticket had been booked and purchased through Qantas using points and pay - but Qantas was not interested in switching me to an earlier flight. That left me with seven hours to kill at the airport. 

Fortunately, Jetstar was much more helpful than Mrs No at the Qantas desk. They promptly and courteously switched me to an earlier flight on an Airbus A320, gave me a window seat near the front and did not charge me a cent. That's impressive service. 

Unfortunately, my bag (containing largely dirty laundry) did not make it through to Hobart with me. 

I filled in a form at the Jetstar desk and was told my suitcase would be delivered to my home (about 75km from the airport) when/if it landed. 

Yep. Unlikely. 

Three hours later there was a phone call. "We have your bag and are delivering it now". 

Sure enough, around an hour later a cheerful fellow delivered my bag to me front door. 

They even sent me a follow-up email

That's pretty impressive all round. 

OK, it would have been better if they hadn't misplaced the bag in the first place - but credit where it is due. Well done.  

So Qantas did lie to its customers

You probably guessed this all along, but Australian flag carrier Qantas has been lying to its customers for years. 

Qantas has been fined $100 million for misleading customers on flight bookings over several years, with a court hearing senior managers were partly aware of the practice.

The airline admitted that it had contravened the Australian Consumer Law and had benefitted from its immoral conduct.

Expect minimal coverage from mainstream travel media, however, as Qantas is a big-spending advertiser. 

Qantas was ordered by the Federal Court to pay $100 million in penalties for misleading consumers, according to a statement from the ACCC.

Justice Helen Rofe formally ordered Qantas to pay the penalty after the competition watchdog and the airline agreed in May on the cost.

“This is a substantial penalty, which sets a strong signal to all businesses, big or small, that they will face serious consequences if they mislead their customers,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

Qantas admitted to contravening Australian Consumer Law (ACL) after it was found to be offering and selling tickets for flights it planned to cancel - and failing to promptly inform existing ticket holders.

The carrier agreed to make joint submissions with the ACCC to the court, admitting the $100m fine is a sufficient means to deter Qantas and other businesses from breaching the ACL in the future, while also "recognising Qantas' cooperation in resolving the proceedings at an early stage".

The ACCC said "Qantas admitted it breached the ACL by engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct, making false or misleading representations and engaging in conduct liable to mislead the public about more than 82,000 flights scheduled to depart between May 2022 and May 2024".

In addition to the $100m in penalties, Qantas will pay about $20 million to consumers who purchased tickets on flights that the airline had already decided to cancel, or in some cases, who were re-accommodated on those flights after their original flights were cancelled.

Not exactly the Spirit of Australia.