Qantas to Launch Melbourne-Honolulu Route with Airbus A330s in 2025

Qantas has unveiled plans to introduce a new Transpacific route connecting Melbourne and Honolulu, starting in May 2025. The 5,405-mile (8,806 km) service will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A330 fleet, with flights scheduled three times per week, pending regulatory approval.

The new route, announced on September 3, 2024, will enhance connectivity between Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and Honolulu, Hawaii, by adding over 40,000 seats annually. The Melbourne-Honolulu flights will run every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Flight QF105 will depart Melbourne at 17:05 and land in Honolulu at 07:40, while the return flight QF106 will leave Honolulu at 09:40, arriving in Melbourne at 17:15.

This new service expands Qantas’ network in the Pacific and complements existing flights offered by both Qantas and its low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar, which currently operates eight weekly services between Sydney and Honolulu. Hawaiian Airlines also serves the Sydney-Honolulu route.

As part of a strategic realignment, Jetstar will discontinue its twice-weekly Dreamliner 787 flights from Melbourne to Honolulu on April 30, 2025. The aircraft will be reassigned to other long-haul routes from Melbourne, streamlining services between Australia and Hawaii.

Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas International, expressed enthusiasm about the new route, stating, “We are thrilled to continue to enhance our network in America with the launch of a new route from Melbourne to Honolulu, bringing a new, tropical destination to our Melbourne customers. Our new service ensures continued connectivity for Melbournians to Hawaii while enabling Jetstar to redeploy its 787 aircraft to other destinations and long-haul routes.”

The announcement coincides with Qantas’ ‘Red Tail Sale,’ offering discounted fares on North and South America routes. From September 3 to September 10, 2024, more than 50,000 seats will be available at reduced prices for travel periods between October 2024 and June 2025.

This new route reflects Qantas’ commitment to expanding its international network and providing more options for travelers between Australia and the US.