Qantas will extend previously-announced capacity reductions across its international and domestic networks into the second half of this year, as the airline faces mounting financial pressure from soaring fuel costs.
The decision has also been shaped by rising demand for travel to Europe, as travellers remain wary of flying to and through the Gulf region.
Qantas is now forecasting its fuel bill could rise by $800 million in the short term, with only a relatively small offset from higher fares and the popularity of European services.
Seasonal Perth-Rome flights, now operating daily, will continue until the end of October instead of being curtailed at the end of the European summer.
The reroute of Sydney–Perth–Paris to become Sydney–Singapore–Paris is also remaining in place for the time being, adding around two hours to the total travel time.
That Paris service will revert to three flights per week, down from the current five, in August; Qantas says these changes will deliver an additional 2,000 seats to and from Europe each week.
However, the airline has hit pause on its Sydney-Bengaluru route, which will be “temporarily suspended from August and resuming at the end of October.”
Reduced trans-Tasman services between Australia and New Zealand, announced last month, will also stay until at least September.
Domestic cuts
On the domestic front, cuts to Qantas and Jetstar flights intended to reduce local passenger capacity by 5% across May and June will now be in force “until the end of September.”
Most flights scrubbed from the schedule come from the major capital city routes where Qantas typically has a packed flight schedule, allowing passengers to be shifted onto earlier or later departures.
This includes the ‘golden triangle’ between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, plus Sydney–Perth, Melbourne–Adelaide and Brisbane–Adelaide.
However, many regional routes are being suspended from May 18: among them are Melbourne–Hamilton Island, Melbourne–Coffs Harbour, Adelaide–Mount Gambier, Sydney–Busselton and Darwin–Gold Coast.
“Customers booked on flights impacted by schedule changes are being contacted directly and offered alternative flights or a refund,” the airline said in a statement issued this morning.