Qantas Expands U.S. Capacity With Over 200,000 Additional Seats And Launches New Brisbane To Palau Route

Starting in February 2025, Qantas will add 220,000 seats to its international network over the next year, driven by the launch of a new Brisbane to Palau route and the return of its A380 aircraft.

Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas Group International, emphasized the flexibility in the airline’s fleet renewal strategy.

“These changes are about having the right aircraft on the right route and responding to growing customer demand,” Wallace said.

Expanded U.S. Capacity

Qantas will boost its U.S. capacity by 13%, with a 30% increase in premium seating as more A380s return to service. Boeing 787 Dreamliners will also operate between Brisbane and Los Angeles, providing customers with a broader range of seating options, including Premium Economy.

New Brisbane to Palau Route

For the first time, Qantas will introduce weekly flights from Brisbane to Palau in the Pacific, marketed as the “Palau Paradise Express.” Using Boeing 737 aircraft, this new route, supported by a Federal Government contract, aims to strengthen tourism and trade ties between Australia and Palau, a popular destination for divers and hikers. Tickets will be available soon, with flights expected to commence soon.

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QantasLink’s A220 Debut on Darwin to Singapore

In March 2025, Qantas will debut its new A220 aircraft on international routes, operating between Darwin and Singapore. This 137-seat aircraft, replacing the previously planned Embraer E190, will offer 70,000 seats annually as part of the airline's ongoing fleet renewal program, which also involves phasing out Boeing 717s.

Changes to Seoul Flights

Qantas will discontinue flights between Sydney and Seoul by mid-2025 as part of its strategy to align capacity with demand. In response, Jetstar will increase its Seoul service to daily flights starting June 17, 2025, adding 100,000 seats annually to better cater to the strong leisure travel demand. This move will boost overall capacity between the two cities, ensuring better passenger service.

With these fleet expansions and route adjustments, Qantas is positioning itself to meet the growing demand for international travel while offering customers more travel options across its network.

Greg Botham, group executive of aviation growth & group strategy at Sydney Airport, expressed his enthusiasm about the changes.

“The A380 has always been a passenger favourite, so it’s great news that Qantas is returning it to the Sydney to Dallas route. The increased capacity will provide more choice for passengers travelling to and from the U.S.,” Botham said.

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“We’re also excited to announce that Jetstar is enhancing its Seoul service, increasing flights to a daily schedule, making it the largest carrier to Korea from Australia. Korean travellers ranked as the fifth largest group passing through Sydney Airport in Q3, a 54% increase compared to 2019, so we know this will be welcome news for passengers.

“These developments underscore our commitment to supporting airline growth and providing more options for passengers at Australia’s global gateway.”