Qantas is ramping up flights to Europe and pulling aircraft from its US network as the Middle East conflict forces a major rethink of global aviation routes.
The airline will increase capacity from April through to July, adding services on key European routes while steering clear of traditional Gulf stopover hubs impacted by ongoing instability.
Flights between Perth and Rome will move to daily, while Paris services will jump from three to five per week. The Paris route will now operate from Sydney via Singapore, allowing for an additional 60 passengers per flight.
Qantas is also boosting its Perth–Singapore service to 10 flights a week to better funnel travellers into its European network.
The move comes as airlines worldwide scramble to reroute around the Middle East, avoiding major hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi as safety concerns escalate.
With capacity between Australia and Europe tightening, experts warn fares are likely to remain elevated despite the added services.
The pressure is also building on airline balance sheets. According to the Australian Financial Review, Qantas could face a significant earnings hit if the conflict drags on and fuel prices continue to climb.
Aviation consultant Tony Webber, Qantas’ former chief economist, told the publication the airline’s earnings from flying could more than halve to around $544 million this financial year, down from earlier forecasts of $1.193 billion.
Behind the scenes, Qantas is redeploying Boeing 787s from its US network and shifting Airbus A330s from domestic routes to international flying to meet surging demand for Europe.
The shake-up could mark a turning point for the ‘kangaroo route’, with Perth and Singapore emerging as critical gateways as airlines move away from the Middle East.
Qantas said it will continue to monitor the situation and adjust schedules as needed, with affected customers offered alternative flights or refunds.
