Qantas has resumed flights to New York, with services from Sydney taking off to the Big Apple for the first time in more than three years.

The launch of QF3 also marks a new route for the national carrier with flights to New York operating via Auckland instead of Los Angeles. Flights will initially operate three days per week with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, increasing to four in October, offering more than 1,800 seats on the route each week.

“While the world has changed dramatically since the start of Covid, one thing that hasn’t changed is the lure of New York City,” says Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO. “Since international borders re-opened, New York has been one of the most popular destinations for our customers who have been connecting on our partners from Qantas flights arriving into Los Angeles and Dallas, so it’s not surprising that we’ve seen very strong demand since our New York flights went on sale. The launch of the route has been made possible by the delivery of new 787 aircraft in recent weeks and brings us closer to returning our international capacity to what it was before Covid.”

READ: Qantas Reveals Business & First Cabins for Ultra-Long-Haul A350 Aircraft

“Flying via Auckland makes it easier for travellers from all parts of Australia to access New York, with the choice of 11 daily flights across the Tasman from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne,” says Joyce. “Offering more room and fewer seats than most of our competitors, the cabins onboard these aircraft have been designed with long-haul travel in mind.”

Qantas now operates three of the top five longest flights in the world, including Perth-London and Dallas-Melbourne, as it increases its focus on direct routes that are also among its most popular. The airline’s Perth-London service has the highest customer satisfaction rating on its international network.

Teams across Qantas have been preparing for the launch, with an advanced cloud-based flight planning system that models flights paths, measuring flight times and winds, to determine the optimal route.

READ: IHG Debuts Voco Brand in Vietnam

Qantas is also progressing plans for a major overhaul of its Auckland International Lounge as part of a $100 million investment in new and upgraded lounges. The lounge will offer more space and feature the best of local design, food and wine when it opens in mid-2024

For more Airline & Airport stories click here.

STAY IN THE KNOW BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, & LINKEDIN