Qantas applied to be allocated a slot pair between Australia and Tokyo Haneda that will become available in late February 2025 once Virgin Australia terminates its flights from Cairns, Australia’s International Air Services Commission (IASC) announced on September 18, 2024.
In the application submitted on September 16, 2024, Qantas is seeking the slot pair, which would be its third between Australia and Haneda, with the aim of moving its existing Brisbane and Melbourne to Tokyo Narita services to the more conveniently located airport. The airline proposes to operate the following flights, all daily, to and from Tokyo Haneda if allocated the slot:
- QF61 / Brisbane – Tokyo Haneda / 11:45AM – 8:00PM
- QF62 / Tokyo Haneda – Brisbane / 6:50AM – 4:45PM
- QF79 / Melbourne – Tokyo Haneda / 10:40AM – 8:15PM
- QF80 / Tokyo Haneda – Melbourne / 9:55PM – 9:15AM+1
- QF25 / Sydney – Tokyo Haneda / 8:30PM – 5:20AM+1
- QF26 / Tokyo Haneda – Sydney / 10:00PM – 8:40AM+1
Most notably, the schedule leaves out the airline’s current second daily rotation from Sydney (QF59/QF60), instead allocating the slot pair toward moving both Brisbane and Melbourne from Narita to Haneda. Whether Qantas would resume Sydney – Narita service if it operates its Haneda flights as outlined in the application or withdraw from Narita airport completely (with the exception of its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar) is unclear.
In the application, Qantas seeks to be awarded the slots “for a period of five years from the date of the determination” with “the capacity to be fully utilized by April 30, 2025.” Further, it requests that “the capacity may be used by Qantas to provide joint services with any wholly-owned subsidiary and by any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Qantas Group to provide joint services with Qantas,” which would leave the door open for a potential Jetstar service in the future.
For the time being, if awarded the slot pair, Qantas plans to operate the extra flight using Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 297 seats including 28 in business and 269 in economy class. It currently operates both of its Sydney – Haneda rotations using the same type as well.
“In accordance with section 12 of the International Air Services Commission Act 1992, the Commission invites other applications for the capacity,” said the IASC announcement. While it is unlikely that any other airline will apply for the slots, Australian airlines will have the option to do so until September 25, 2024. The commission targets to make its final decision by October 10, 2024.
