QF international is back!

QANTAS this morning published a revised schedule, indicating a significant acceleration of its return to international operations as pandemic-related restrictions ease (TD breaking news).

The move will see all 22,000 Qantas staff able to return to work in Dec, a full six months earlier than previously expected.

As well as bringing forward the resumption of much of the Qantas network operations, the carrier has also announced a new non-stop service to India, with Sydney-Delhi flights set to commence on 06 Dec this year.

Initially three weekly A330 flights will operate on the route, building to daily by the end of the year, subject to discussions with Indian authorities to finalise necessary approvals.

The Sydney-Delhi flights will operate via Darwin, while the return sector will be non-stop, and Qantas is currently planning for them to be in place until at least Mar 2022 with a view to continuing if justified by demand.

The updated schedule will also see Sydney-Singapore flights resume on 23 Nov, four weeks ahead of schedule, while Jetstar will fly from Melbourne and Darwin to Singapore from 16 Dec.

Heavy demand for flights to Fiji will see Sydney-Nadi QF services brought forward to 07 Dec, with four weekly 737 frequencies.

Other early additions to the QF international map include Sydney-Johannesburg, resuming on 05 Jan 2022, along with Sydney-Bangkok from 14 Jan and Jetstar services from Sydney to Phuket from 12 Jan.

More updates from the Qantas announcement on

this morning’s update from Qantas included confirmation that the carrier will return its flagship Airbus A380s to service much earlier than previously forecast.

Originally expected to remain in long-term storage in California until the end of 2023, the return has been accelerated to see two A380s commencing Los Angeles flights from Apr 2022, with London A380 services to resume not long thereafter.

One of the superjumbos may even arrive before the end of the year to assist with crew training ahead of its return to service.

Three more A380s will come online in Nov next year, while currently Qantas expects all eight to return to service by early 2024.

CEO Alan Joyce also confirmed that five Jetstar Boeing 787-8s will be taken out of storage in Alice Springs over the coming months, while Qantas is looking to bring forward delivery of three brand new Boeing 787-9s which are currently in storage in the US.