QANTAS: Perth-London direct and London A380 via Singapore to London, and lounges reinstated

We reported a while back that Qantas was accelerating the return of the A380 fleet with refurbished interiors earlier than expected. Qantas will use those aircraft on its reinstated Sydney to London via Singapore route. The airline is also relaunching direct flights between Perth and London. Dates for these changes below:

• Perth to London direct resumes 27 March
• Sydney to London via Singapore (QF1/2) to recommence 27 March, 2022
• A380 returns to QF1/2 route on 19 June, 2022

Goodbye to Darwin

This also means that using Darwin as a temporary transit point, instead of Perth and Singapore also ends. I had predicted given ongoing disputes with Perth Airport, the Western Australia border closures, and the general exceptionalism of the WA population could see Perth ceasing to be the jumping-off point for direct London flights. Obviously, I was wrong. Darwin and its temporary use of the Catalina lounge at the Airport will finish their time in the sun.

Speaking of lounges

The resumption of flights via Singapore could see the reopening of the Qantas Singapore First lounge, but probably not until the A380 resumes flights in June 2022. The 787s operating on the route until then don’t have a First Class, so the only passengers eligible to use the First Lounge would be OneWorld Emerald members. When you have just dropped a couple of billion during the pandemic, it’s probably not a good look to be re-opening premium lounges for a handful of passengers, however high value they may be. Anyway, the Business Lounge in Singapore is open and has been since December 2020. That’s also when the London lounge reopened.

A380

All the A380’s returning to the London route will have the newly upgraded interiors covering the First Class Suites, Business and Premium Economy cabins, and new upper deck lounge areas.

Perth the hub to Europe

As well as the popular 17-hour direct flight to London, Perth will also host the currently seasonal non-stop flight to Rome between 22 June and 6 October. The flights are scheduled out of Sydney via Perth and will use the Boeing 787-9’s to take you to the eternal city.

Qantas is toying with other European destinations from Perth. Paris and Frankfurt have both been foreshadowed by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

The ‘hub’ involves the use of the international wing at the otherwise largely domestic T3 Terminal in Perth for the Qantas International Transit Lounge, rather than the dedicated International terminal used by all other airlines.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

Although I like the novelty of Darwin as the gateway in and out of Australia for European destinations, it’s good to see things returning to something more like normal, with the move back to Perth.

More particularly, I’m pleased that my favourite plane, the A380 will get back in the air on the London Route via Singapore, along with the eventual re-opening of the Qantas First Lounge.

That’s enough for now. I just need to check points fares availability on that Sydney to Rome route . . .