Qantas has today launch its brand new international route for New Zealanders with the start of non-stop Qantas flights from Auckland direct to the Big Apple for the first time.
The new route, QF3, originates in Sydney with an Auckland stopover for Australian travellers. Prior to COVID, Qantas’ New York services operated via Los Angeles.
Flights will initially operate three days per week with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, increasing to four per week from October, offering more than 1,800 seats on the route each week.
Travelling on the inaugural flight, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce says the airline was thrilled to be offering another Qantas international route from New Zealand.
“The departure of QF3 marks the first Qantas flight from Auckland to an international destination outside of Australia in more than two decades.
“The new route is great news for our customers here in New Zealand who now have more choice in flying direct to New York with some convenient connections to places like Boston and Washington DC.
“The launch of the route has been made possible by the delivery of new 787 aircraft in recent weeks and brings us closer to returning our international capacity closer to what it was before COVID.”
The Qantas Group is expected to return to around 100 per cent of its international network pre-COVID capacity by March 2024, up from around 85 per cent of pre-COVID levels today. This is a significant increase from just 45 per cent 12 months ago.
“The flights will benefit New Zealand tourism, helping to bring more visitors direct from the United States to explore the best of the North and South Islands,” says Alan.
“Offering more room and fewer seats than most of our competitors, the cabins onboard these aircraft have been designed with long-haul travel in mind.”
Qantas now operates three of the top five longest flights in the world, including Perth-London and Dallas-Melbourne, as it increases its focus on direct routes that are also among its most popular.
The airline’s Perth-London service has the highest customer satisfaction rating on its international network.
Teams across Qantas have been preparing for the launch, with an advanced cloud-based flight planning system that models flights paths, measuring flights times and winds, to determine the optimal route.
To celebrate the launch of the new route, Qantas has introduced a number of customer initiatives onboard QF3 and QF4, including limited edition pyjamas and amenity kits designed by Australian designer Rebecca Vallance for Business Class passengers and New York inspired menu items throughout the aircraft.
Qantas is also progressing plans for a major overhaul of its Auckland International Lounge as part of a $100 million investment in new and upgraded lounges. The lounge will offer more space and feature the best of local design, food and wine when it opens in mid-2024.
