Qantas suspends flights to Shanghai

Qantas is making a series of updates to its Asia network with a suspension, schedule changes and launch of a new route. From July 28, 2024, Qantas flights to Shanghai will be suspended due to low demand. The Australian airline resumed its Sydney-Shanghai service in October last year after it was paused during the pandemic, however demand has not recovered as anticipated. ""Qantas will continue to monitor the Australia-China market closely and will look to return to Shanghai when demand has recovered. Aircraft used on this route will be redirected to boost flying to other destinations across Asia where there is increasing demand or new tourism opportunities,"" Qantas said in a statement. Qantas is also opening a new route from Brisbane to Manila, with flights launching four times a week from October 28, 2024. This route is the first flights to Manila from Brisbane in ten years. Qantas will also increase flying to Singapore by around 10 per cent, offering more than 2,500 additional seats per week. Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said of the flight changes: “We’re always looking to ensure that we have the right aircraft, on the right routes and at the right time of year to best meet the needs of our customers. Since COVID, the demand for travel between Australia and China has not recovered as strongly as expected. In some months, our flights to and from Shanghai have been operating around half full. “That’s why we’ve decided to suspend this route and boost flying to other popular destinations with a new route from Brisbane to Manila and additional flights to Singapore and Bengaluru. This will create more choice for our corporate and leisure customers and make it even easier for them to access the places they need to travel to in Asia. “We’ll continue to maintain a presence in China through our partners and our existing flights to Hong Kong and look to return to Shanghai in the future.”