QANTAS: Adds USA capacity and a new Palau route

Qantas is shaking things up internationally from February 2025. It is shuffling around the timings of some routes to make aircraft use more efficient and increase capacity on some routes because of the return to air of two A380s. It’s also launching a new route to the Pacific, with flights between Brisbane and Palau.

Old refurbished A380s return to service, and new A220s arrive

Qantas has had its last two Airbus A380s in the shop, and they are being refurbished. They have been out of action for a while, so the service return allows increased capacity on routes to the USA. That frees up some Boeing 787 Dreamliners to service other routes, replacing A330s on routes like Brisbane to Los Angeles.

Subsidiary QantasLink will also receive more of the brand-new A220 aircraft. It has taken delivery of four of a total of 29 A220 jet aircraft on order. The greater capacity and range (almost double) of these aircraft over the Boeing 717s gives Qantas a lot of flexibility. The A220s have the range to fly between any two Australian locations and some international routes like Darwin to Singapore. That route was originally planned to be serviced by an Embraer E190, but it will now use an A220.

USA Changes

The additional A380s will be used here, although not until August 2025. Most routes are increasing frequency or capacity; however, the route to New York via Auckland will reduce frequency. Overall seating will increase by 30%, with a 13% increase in premium cabins.

Route	Change	Commencement
Melbourne-Dallas	Flights increase to four from three per week.	6 February 2025
Sydney-New York (via Auckland)	Flights decrease to five from six per week.	6 February 2025
Brisbane-Los Angeles	Boeing 787 Dreamliner returns, more than doubling capacity with Premium Economy. Route will be serviced by both A330 and B787 aircraft.	11 August 2025
Sydney-Dallas	A380 finally returns post-COVID. Daily flights will use a mix of A380 and B787s.	11 August 2025

On the routes using two different aircraft types Brisbane-LAX and Sydney-DFW), make sure the flights you select are on your preferred aircraft.

New Route to Palau

Qantas will commence flying between Brisbane and Palau on a government contract route. Called the ‘Palau Paradise Express’ (barf), the roughly six-hour service will run weekly using a Boeing 737. The start date for this route is vague, quoted as ‘coming months’, with sales commencing in the ‘next few weeks’.

Palau is a small island country in the western Pacific, to the right of the Philippines on the map. It has about 340 islands and a population of 18,000. Palau is famed for its marine life and as a diving destination.

Seoul — Qantas goodbye, Jetstar hello

Qantas is leaving Seoul on 14 June, and Jetstar is expanding to take up the slack. Jetstar will increase its flights to daily from four services per week.

This move indicates that Seoul is more of a leisure market than a business one. This change will stuff up some existing bookings, so contact Qantas to consider your options if you are one.

Brisbane — Auckland and Noumea changes

The good news is that a Dreamliner, Boing 787, will be added to the Brisbane-Auckland route starting in August. The bad news is that, from 11 August 2025, three different aircraft types will service the route, including a B737, A330, and Dreamliner. Watch what you book.

Brisbane to Noumea flights have been suspended since April of this year due to continuing civil disturbances between the native Kanak population and the French government. Services are now due to recommence on 14 December, just in time for the Christmas/New Year season. For the first time, services will increase from one to two per week using an Embraer E190 on this 2.5-hour flight.

2PAXfly Takeout

This re-arrangement of deck chairs is mostly the rationalisation of routes with demand and the accommodation of new aircraft.

Nothing of real note to see here other than the first use of the A220 on an international route and the return of the final A380s on routes to the USA.

The Brisbane to Palau route is interesting, but really a side note. It’s an unusual destination. Your best option to get there is via Taiwanese carrier, China Airlines, with a 5-hour+ layover in Taipei. Could be an interesting holiday, Taiwan and Palau.