With increasing domestic demand, Qantas has expanded their partnership with Alliance Airlines adding additional Embraer E190 capacity. The carrier has increased service between Adelaide and Canberra, and Jetstar will redeploy more aircraft from Singapore.
On Thursday (June 17, 2021), the Qantas Group announced that both Qantas and Jetstar will add aircraft and flights to meet growing domestic travel demand. Qantas has expanded their partnership with Alliance Airlines for the addition of Embraer E190 jet capacity and will double flights between Adelaide and Canberra to 18 per week by mid-July. Additionally, Jetstar Airways will temporarily redeploy three Airbus A320s from Jetstar Asia in Singapore, as international travel in the region faces a slower recovery. The aircraft will join six Airbus A320s on loan to Jetstar Airways from Jetstar Japan and up to five Boeing 787-8s set to operate domestically until international demand returns. During FY22, Jetstar’s domestic Australian network is set to grow up to 120 percent compared to the pre-pandemic period.
In Thursday’s announcement, Qantas Group’s CEO, Alan Joyce, said,
“Since travel demand started to recover about a year ago, our strategy has been to think creatively about how we use our fleet to add capacity back in, generate revenue and get more of our people back to work. That’s why we now have 787s flying domestically and A320s on loan from Jetstar airlines in Asia. Expanding our long-standing relationship with Alliance gives us access to a different aircraft type without spending any capital. The E190 is perfect for connecting capital cities and regional centres. Its size, range and economics have already let us start seven new routes that wouldn’t have worked with our existing fleet.
“When you combine our fleet, network, loyalty program, lounges, and the fact we offer both full service and low fare travel options, it puts the Group in a good position to deliver for the traveling public as we emerge from COVID. Victoria represents about 20 per cent of our total network and with restrictions in Melbourne easing and as borders start to reopen, we expect to see a quick rebound in travel demand just as we have in other cities when lockdowns ended. Our forward bookings certainly suggest that’s going to be the case.”
Qantas’ expanded three-year deal with Alliance Airlines will see an increase from 14 to 18 aircraft, with three currently operating and another five to enter service by October. The partnership provides QantasLink with added capacity using Alliance’s Embraer E190s, providing flexibility to respond to changing market conditions. The E190s will be painted in QantasLink livery, supporting Qantas’ goal of growing domestic capacity to at least 107 percent of pre-pandemic levels in FY22.
Last month, the first of the 94-seat Embraer E190s began operating on the QantasLink network and the jet’s five-hour range provides the perfect platform to connect regional centers with smaller city capitals. Additionally, the introduction of the E190s allows Qantas to redeploy their Boeing 737s across the airline’s domestic network, facilitating the introduction of new routes and added frequencies.
Source: Qantas
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