Qantas has taken the first steps towards establishing a new ‘Kangaroo Route’, operating flights via Dubai rather than Southeast Asia.
Confirmation of the revised Qantas routes, Sydney-Dubai-London and Melbourne-Dubai-London, come as Australian competition authorities consider the proposed Qantas-Emirates partnership, which remains subject to regulatory approval. All being well, Qantas expects to re-route its flights through Dubai from 31 March 2013.
“The proposed partnership with Emirates will offer Qantas customers one-stop access to more than 30 destinations in Europe compared with the five we offer now,” said Simon Hickey, CEO of Qantas
International. “The benefits for the travelling public are clear and feedback we’ve had since the Emirates partnership was announced has been overwhelmingly positive.
“By releasing our schedules now, travellers can book their trips beyond March 2013 with confidence based on the new Qantas international route map. The Kangaroo Route used to pass through the Middle East on its way from Australia to London and now it will again,” Hickey added.
Qantas will start work with Emirates on its proposed partnership from today, following discussions with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) and withdrawal of the airline’s request for interim authorisation. Earlier this year the ACCC approved a similar tie-up between Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia.
Qantas has also made a series of other adjustments to its international flight schedule. Services to Frankfurt will continue until October 2013 and flights to Singapore will be timed so that they connect better with onward flights within Asia.
Qantas said it will contact passengers with existing bookings to Europe or the UK after 31 March 2013 to offer them alternative flights.
