Airlines

Qantas adds New York flights with new aircraft, designer PJs & menu items

Qantas Announces New Non-Stop Direct Flights from Perth to Paris

Qantas has taken delivery of brand-new 787 Dreamliner aircraft to operate the route and has released a selection of exclusive onboard passenger products as it prepares to resume flights to New York for the first time since 2020.

The national carrier will begin offering three weekly flights from Sydney to New York on June 14; those flights will increase to four weekly in October. For the first time, the route will stop in Auckland en route to New York before continuing on a 17+ hour direct journey. The flight had previously used Los Angeles as a stopover.

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The relaunch of the New York flights brings Qantas closer to returning to 100 percent of its international network pre-COVID capacity by March 2024. For a limited time, Business Class customers on the New York route will be offered a navy sleeper suit featuring a monogram of the Qantas “Roo” and Rebecca Vallance logo, incorporating the flight numbers QF3 and QF4 and a bespoke New York heart design.

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They will also receive a custom-created Rebecca Vallance amenity kit, with a matching eyeshade instead of the Koskela amenity kit being rolled out across the international network. A small number of the collectible PJ and amenity kit sets will be available for purchase on Qantas Marketplace for $69 (plus delivery) or 12,000 Qantas Points (plus delivery).

New York inspired menu items across QF3, QF4 premium cabins

New York style spaghetti and meatballs
Classic Reuben sandwich
NY bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers and lemon
General Tso chicken with smashed cucumber salad, steamed rice and broccolini
Classic beef hot dog with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard
Seared beef fillet with creamed spinach and baked potato with sour cream and chives
Pecan pie with crème fraiche
New York style baked cheesecake with blueberry compote

The Qantas First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne and the Auckland International Lounge will feature a New York-inspired dish of the day for the month of June, along with Manhattan Spritz and Garibaldi cocktails.

Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.