Qantas resumes flights between Sydney and New York via Auckland

After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Qantas resumes flights between Sydney and New York (Wednesday morning local Sydney time). Instead of following the traditional route via Los Angeles, the Australian airline will now operate this route via Auckland, New Zealand.

The QF3 flight will initially operate three times a week with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with capacity for 236 passengers (42 Business suites, 28 Premium Economy seats and 166 in Economy). Starting in October, a fourth weekly flight will be added, increasing the route’s total capacity to more than 1,800 seats per week.

The flight time between Sydney and Auckland is estimated at 3 hours 5 minutes, and between the latter city and New York16 hours 15 minutes, covering a total of 16,371 kilometers.

Alan Joyce, Qantas Group Chief Executive, said demand for flights to New York had been strong since international borders reopened. In addition, Joyce claimed that the introduction of new 787 aircraft in recent weeks made its relaunch possible.

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Qantas’ international capacity has increased since last year, from 45% to 85% of its pre-COVID levels. According to the company, the international network is expected to return to full capacity in March 2024.

In addition to its relevance to travellers, the resumption of the route could also have a positive impact on Australian tourism. The flights offer a way for more visitors from the United States to explore Australia.

The route’s new itinerary, with a stopover in Auckland, also provides Australian travelers with greater accessibility to New York by having the choice of 11 daily flights across the Tasman Sea to connect with the New York service.

To celebrate the restart of the route, Qantas has introduced several initiatives on board, including limited-edition pajamas and amenity kits for Business Class passengers, as well as New York-inspired menus.

In addition, Qantas plans to refurbish its Auckland International Lounge as part of a $100 million investment in upgrading its lounges. According to the company, the new room will offer more space and feature local design, food and wine when it opens in 2024.

The resumption of flights between Sydney and New York It is a significant milestone in the recovery of the global airline industry after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Qantas points out that it currently operates three of the five longest non-stop routes in the world, including Perth-London and Dallas-Melbourne.