iscover
Qantas and Jetstar have launched a pair of international services from Sydney.
The Flying Kangaroo on Monday began 737-800 flights between Sydney and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, while its low-cost arm on Tuesday resumed its route between Sydney and Osaka using 787-8 Dreamliners.
Qantas’ two weekly Sydney-Port Moresby flights mark the first time it has flown directly between the two cities in more than 50 years, adding more than 36,000 seats on the route per year and complementing the airline’s existing Brisbane-Port Moresby route.
“These flights will meet the growing demand from the business community for travel between Australia and Papua New Guinea,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.
“Our new Sydney service will save customers at least three hours in travel time on return trip by avoiding a stopover in Brisbane.”
Jetstar, meanwhile, has resurrected its Sydney-Osaka services after more than 15 years. The return flights will operate three times per week, adding more than 100,000 seats on the route per year, and will be the only direct service between Sydney and Japan’s second largest city.
Jenn Armor, Jetstar’s executive manager, customer, said the new route opens up more low-cost travel options between Australia and Japan.
“Australians’ love for Japan continues to grow and the strength of the Australian dollar against the Yen means it’s incredibly affordable right now,” she said.
“This is the third direct service we’ve launched from Australia to Japan in the last six months and the second to Osaka, with strong demand for our existing flights.”
Jetstar earlier this year began direct flights from Brisbane to Osaka. The new services, announced in June last year, are part of a massive expansion of Jetstar’s international Brisbane operations, including a shift of Tokyo services from the Gold Coast, an increase in flights to Denpasar and Auckland, and an increasing deployment of the Airbus A321neo LR.
The airline last year announced a major overhaul of its 11 787 aircraft, with a new cabin including updated business and economy-class seats plus a lie-flat crew rest area, as well as a livery update to match the A321neos.
The works will be carried out during scheduled maintenance starting in 2025.
