Sky’s no limit for Qantas flights to Canada

According to the IASC, it is “required to assess the extent to which all Australian carriers that are, or would be permitted to use the capacity allocated under a determination are reasonably capable of: (a) obtaining any licences, permits or other approvals required to operate on and service the route to which the determination relates; and (b) using the capacity allocated under the determination”.

“The Commission notes that Qantas is an established international carrier that currently operates scheduled international services between Australia and several international destinations, including scheduled international services between Australia and Canada,” the commissioners wrote.

“The Commission therefore finds that Qantas is reasonably capable of obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals to operate on the route and of using the proposed capacity allocation.

“Accordingly, the Commission has concluded that Qantas satisfies the criteria … The Commission, therefore, has decided to allocate the capacity as requested by Qantas.”

The IASC also gave the thumbs-up for Qantas’ plan to use some of this capacity for code-sharing, saying it “does not alter the nature or scope of the carrier’s existing code share arrangements with American Airlines and WestJet Airlines”.

“The allocation would not have the effect of changing the number of airlines operating on the route or the number of airlines marketing services on the route, nor would it expand the existing arrangements previously approved by the Commission for American Airlines and WestJet Airlines to code share on services operated by Qantas between Sydney and Vancouver,” it said.

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Currently, services to Canada are available from Sydney, with Qantas flying to Vancouver, and Air Canada to Vancouver and Toronto; from Brisbane, Air Canada flies to Vancouver; and from Auckland, Air New Zealand flies to Vancouver.

Alongside Canada, the bilateral air service agreements announced by the government in 2024 included open skies with Malaysia, increases for both Hong Kong and Chile, and Australia’s first bilateral ASAs with Latvia, Mongolia and Rwanda.

Previously, Canadian airlines could operate 9,000 seats per week into Australia’s four major airports of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with unlimited flights into other airports, while Malaysian carriers could fly 36,000 seats per week into major airports and unlimited into others.

The deals signed in 2024 immediately increased capacity to 50,000 weekly seats to Malaysia and 50 weekly flights to Canada.

“We’re expanding our international aviation network to increase competition and deliver a better experience for Australian travellers,” Transport Minister Catherine King said at the time.

“Whether travelling to these countries or using them as stepping stones to the rest of the world, each of these arrangements represents a stronger connection with our global market – for travel, trade and tourism.

“We committed to this in our Aviation White Paper and today we are delivering on that commitment – landing additional capacity in the international sector.”

There are now 110 bilateral air service agreements in place between Australia and other countries.