Qantas International boss Cam Wallace (pictured) says the carrier is generating strong momentum in this country, as he hints that QF is working with American Airlines on possibly more flights from the US through AKL to Australia. With Jetstar and joint venture partners, QF has up to 56% of the transtasman market, and the QF group has grown nearly 20% here since the pandemic.
“We’re starting to become more relevant for New Zealand consumers” says Wallace (pictured). “We’re getting great support from the trade as well as from our customers.” Wallace was speaking at the launch of QF’s new lounge at Auckland Airport, which is part of the airline’s plan to build AKL as QF’s eastern hub with more frequency for its Sydney-AKL-New York service. And it will also be utilised if the carrier does press ahead with more US flights via AKL. While the QF fleet renewal gives more flexibility, QF doesn’t have any immediate plans to restore its AKL-LAX service. “We’re always talking to them (AA) about their services, to LA and their services to Dallas and about how we can do more together,’’ adds Wallace. As part of an executive shake-up at QF, Wallace was given responsibility for in-f light and on-ground services as well as the airline’s direct channels and payments teams. However, the visiting QF executive says his expanded responsibilities will have a limited impact on the trade and that QF’s expansion here opens more opportunities for agents. “I don’t think, specifically for the trade, there’ll be any kind of major change,’’ says Wallace.
QF has also restarted its Perth service and at Mon’s new AKL lounge reveal, Wallace announced QF’s plans to launch flights to the Gold Coast and to Samoa ex Auckland.
. . . Trade Response
House of Travel ceo Dave Coombes says the new lounge is a ‘massive improvement’. He also acknowledged QF’s new routes and expansion here. ‘Qantas has been playing that game for a while now and that can only be good both for our leisure and corporate customers’. At the same time Flight Centre’s Heidi Walker says the new lounge and new flights are great news for agents and consumers.
See photos from the opening HERE.
