Qantas shakes up Asia routes

Emirates President Tim Clark  and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce announce  the global aviation partnership, which begins on March 31.  Source: AP

QANTAS has announced major changes to its Asia flights as it prepares for its new partnership with Middle Eastern airline Emirates.

The airline is reducing its Perth-Singapore services to one per day and ceasing its Adelaide-Singapore and Perth-Hong Kong services  from the end of March.

But it is boosting flights from Perth and Sydney to Singapore, plus Brisbane to Hong Kong - all will be daily services.

The carrier has also brought forward the end date for its loss-making Frankfurt services by six months to April 15. Passengers affected by the changes will be contacted by the airline and offered alternative services.

The Qantas-Emirates partnership is due to begin on March 31, subject to government and regulatory approval.

Under the new arrangement flights to Europe will go via Dubai instead of Singapore.

Qantas International chief executive officer Simon Hickey said the airline had decided to restructure existing services to Asia now that they are no longer tied to onward links to Europe.

Tourism and Transport Forum acting chief executive officer Trent Zimmerman said Asian travellers would be flying at times that suit them rather than times that suit European connections. 

"Earlier arrival times into Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore will also increase the number of available connections via Qantas partner airlines from other parts of Asia to Australia," he said. 

"The number of dedicated seats on Qantas services to Hong Kong and Singapore was increasing significantly because capacity previously set aside for customers going to Europe via these hubs can be freed up," he said.

The changes, which will be rolled out in phases, also mean earlier arrival times into Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, with flights brought forward by up to three hours to increase the number of onward connections.

Kuala Lumpur will also become a new destination available to Qantas customers via the combined Qantas-Emirates network.

Qantas also plans to expand its network within Asia through local partners such as Japan Airlines, China Eastern, Jet Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines.

It is looking into new destinations in Asia from 2016, including Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda.
 

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