Qantas has revealed that it is to increase international capacity ahead of its additional aircraft returning to its fleet. The airline will add seats on services to the United States, such as New York and Los Angeles, as well as other destinations like Johannesburg and Bali.
The airline is currently operating at approximately 80 percent of what it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, and has almost doubled its flight departures in the past 12 months. Qantas has predicted it will be reaching 100 percent by March 2024. The new additions announced are set to take place from July 2024 onwards.
Qantas international CEO, Cam Wallace, said that the additional flights will enable more customers from Australia and around the world to travel and to keep up with the increased demand.
“Hundreds of thousands of extra seats on our network is great news for our customers planning their next overseas trip. We know our customers are looking for great value, and this additional capacity will put more downward pressure on fares,” said Wallace.
Three Boeing 787 aircraft have recently been added to Qantas’ fleet in the past months, with the new services allowing a gradual return of its Airbus A380 aircraft to service, post maintenance.
This announcement followed the previous target set by Qantas to add one million seats to its services over the next 12 months. It’s Syndey to New York service has proved to be popular, and beneficial for the local accommodation and tourism industry due to it’s stop over in Auckland. The newly announced services are to make up nearly 250,000 of the one million seat target.
“The additional capacity will largely be made possible through our final two A380s returning to the Qantas fleet following heavy maintenance and cabin improvements.”
Customers who are travelling on the new services will also be allowed to use Covid credits, with the expiry date of the credits extended for another 12 months provided they are booked by the 31st of December 2023.
