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Qantas is set to become the first airline in the world to directly connect Australia with Las Vegas.
The national carrier will launch a new seasonal non-stop service between Sydney and Las Vegas in December, operating three times per week on 787-9 Dreamliners until March 2027. It will allow Vegas-bound Australians to skip layovers in cities such as Los Angeles or San Francisco.
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“Australians’ appetite for international travel continues to be incredibly strong. Rome and Sapporo have shown us there’s real demand for seasonal services to destinations people want to visit at certain times of year, and we’re continuing to expand those direct connections around the world,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.
“Our historic fleet renewal is giving us the flexibility to deploy aircraft where we see demand, opening up route possibilities that simply weren’t there before.
“Las Vegas becomes our 101st destination and is a great example of how we’re using that capability. This growth also creates real opportunities for our people, particularly our pilots and cabin crew, as we expand where we fly.”
The seasonal flights will operate during several major events and expos in Las Vegas, including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the biggest tech expo in the world, and the National Rugby League’s (NRL) annual season kick off Las Vegas Festival.
Qantas has operated charter services for the NRL to Vegas for the past two years, with flights again fully booked this year for the third time.
According to the president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Steve Hill, the announcement of the service is a sign of the strength of Vegas’ Australian market.
“Australia has consistently ranked as our second-largest overseas market and our top international market without a nonstop flight,” he said.
“More than 250,000 Australians visit each year, drawn by the breadth and depth of experiences Las Vegas offers. We are grateful to Qantas for their partnership and confidence in our city.”
The news comes after Jetstar in 2024 flagged that Las Vegas could be on the list of destinations for its refitted 787-8 Dreamliner fleet, with CEO Stephanie Tully telling news.com.au that its own fleet renewal would unlock more long-haul opportunities.
“With what we’re doing with our bigger aircraft, the 787s, they’ll be able to fly further, so places like Vegas and Cape Town are not out of reach, [though] I’m not confirming we’re doing them,” she said.
“Also, the new aircraft that are coming, our new narrow-bodies – what we call the NEOs or the XLRs – coming soon, they can go to other places in Southeast Asia.”
Jetstar’s first Dreamliner landed in Hong Kong for its cabin refit last month.
