Qantas  has  today announced a series  of  improvements to its international network,  as  part of a phased approach aimed at delivering the best offering of any airline flying between Australia and Asia.

The improvements – the first of which take effect from 31 March 2013 – will be rolled out in four phases and go towards the Qantas Group strategy of ‘growing with Asia’. The planned phases are:

1.  Stronger links to the key hubs of Singapore and Hong Kong (better frequency and timings as well as increased dedicated capacity)
2.  Enhanced customer experience (improvements to cabin, in-flight entertainment, lounges)
3.  Expanded network within Asia through local partners (such as Japan Airlines, China Eastern, Jet Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines)
4.  Investigating an increase in destinations to Asia using the Qantas Group’s B787-9 options from 2016, coinciding with the turnaround of Qantas International (direct destinations under consideration include Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda).

The new Qantas lounge in Singapore will open on 31 March and the new Hong Kong First lounge is scheduled to open this September. A total of $9 million has been invested in the upgrades.

Qantas is also examining a refresh of its international A330 fleet to include a lie-flat bed in Business Class.
Key among the changes in the first phase of improving the Asia network, which will apply from today for travel after 31 March, are:

• Better access to the key Asian hubs of Hong Kong and Singapore, with a dedicated capacity increase of around 10  per cent and 40 per cent respectively on the Qantas network plus extended capacity on the Qantas-Emirates network
• Earlier arrival times into Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, with flights brought forward by up to three hours to increase the number of onward connections
• A new destination – Kuala Lumpur – available to Qantas customers via the combined Qantas-Emirates network.

Summary of schedule changes