Airlines

“Qantas Returns to the Skies: Sydney to New York Flights Resume After Three-Year Hiatus”

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

Qantas will restart flights to New York today, with services from Sydney departing for the first time in more than three years.

The introduction of QF3 also marks the start of a new route for the national carrier, with flights to New York now departing from Auckland rather than Los Angeles. Flights will begin three days a week with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, increasing to four in October, with more than 1,800 seats available on the route each week.

Qantas to Fly Direct Perth-London in 17 Hours With Dreamliner(Opens in a new browser tab)

By March 2024, the Qantas Group is anticipated to increase to around 100% of pre-COVID levels, up from the current 85% pre-COVID levels. Compared to just 45% a year ago, this is a huge improvement.

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.

Emirates reintroduce direct A380 services to Auckland and Kuala Lumpur from December(Opens in a new browser tab)

As part of a $100 million investment in new and upgraded lounges, Qantas is also moving forward with plans for a significant renovation of its Auckland International Lounge. When it opens in mid-2024, the lounge will have more room and the greatest local decor, cuisine, and wine.

Fast Facts:

SYD-AKL Flight Time: 3 hours 5 mins

AKL-JFK Flight Time: 16 hours 15 mins

SYD-AKL-JFK Travel distance: 16,371 kilometers

Qantas’ Dreamliner carries 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins in a layout that has been designed to maximize comfort for longer distances.

42 Business suites in a 1-2-1 configuration with a fully-flat bed and direct aisle access
28 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration
166 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration

Airlines

Federal Court Imposes $100M Fine on Qantas for “Ghost Flights” Scandal

In a major ruling, the Federal Court has confirmed a hefty A$100 million penalty against Qantas for its involvement in the “ghost flights” scandal. As reported by FlightGlobal.

The court found that Qantas misled consumers by offering and selling tickets for flights that the airline had already decided to cancel. Adding to the controversy, Qantas failed to promptly notify ticket holders about these cancellations.

The penalty follows Qantas’ admission of violating the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The airline agreed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the penalty amount, aiming to deter Qantas and other businesses from similar breaches in the future.

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The ACCC emphasized that this substantial fine sends a clear message: misleading customers will lead to serious consequences, regardless of a company’s size. In addition to the penalty, Qantas has committed to paying approximately A$20 million to affected passengers who unknowingly purchased tickets for canceled flights.

This compensation comes on top of any refunds or alternative flight arrangements already provided. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb praised the penalty, underscoring the importance of robust compliance programs red energy qantas in large corporations like Qantas.

She pointed out that Qantas has since made changes to its operating and scheduling procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.