BRITISHAirways is handing more UK-Australia services to partner Qantas this year.
From June, BA is to pull off Heathrow routes to Perth and Brisbane to concentrate on enhancing UK-Asia flights.
Qantas will increase its Perth and Brisbane flights to Singapore, which connect with its and BA’s UK services, to compensate for BA’s withdrawal from the routes.
Qantas will lease seven BA Boeing 767s to increase Perth flights to 18 a week from seven and enhance Brisbane from seven a week to 11. B747s used by BA on the axed routes will be used to increase Heathrow flights to Singapore and Bangkok. BA will increase Singapore flights from 14 a week to 19, and Bangkok services to 10 a week from seven.
BA is also planning to introduce a second daily Heathrow-Sydney service. This flight will be routed through Singapore.
Qantas is also improving its UK schedule by adding a second daily Heathrow flight to Melbourne through Singapore. The shake-up comes as Qantas and its 25% shareholder BA prepare for Singapore Airlines’ entry into the Star Alliance. SIA is expected to step up its Australia-UK alliance with Star Alliance members Air New Zealand and Ansett Australia once admitted.