Qantas resumes international flights from Adelaide
It’s only seasonal, and only to Auckland, but it’s a start...
By David Flynn, May 15 2025
Qantas will restart international flights from Adelaide later this year, taking the first step to what the airline has previously indicated could see the City of Churches reconnected with Singapore and other key cities in Asia on the new Airbus A321XLR.
For now, though, this first step is a modest one: a red-tailed Boeing 737 workhorse will fly four times a week between Adelaide and Auckland, and only on a seasonal basis between 31 October 2025 and 3 May 2026.
Departing every Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Adelaide-Auckland flight QF175 will take a little over four hours, with Qantas promising “seamless connections to North America via New Zealand on the airline’s popular QF3 service from Auckland to New York.”
The Adelaide-Auckland flights are now on sale, with launch fares from $699 economy return.
Qantas will connect Adelaide and Auckland with its workhorse Boeing 737.
Qantas Group CEO International Cam Wallace described the new route as “fantastic news for our South Australian customers who will have access to a direct international flight to Auckland as well as opening up connections to New York via Auckland.”
Today’s announcement coincided with the official opening of the all-new Qantas Adelaide Business Lounge, which will complement the revitalised Qantas Club and Qantas Chairman’s Lounge as the three stars of the airline’s Adelaide Lounge precinct.
“The new lounge has been designed based off feedback and the features we know our customers’ value the most,” Wallace reflected.
Read more: Inside the all-new Qantas Adelaide Business Lounge
15 Sep 2012
Total posts 95
So The Sydney airline offers a token 4 flights a week to Auckland! Hardly worth the effort! Should be daily to Auckland and Singapore with flights to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo.
20 Oct 2015
Total posts 279
Jeez, typical whinge. Maybe you should think before hitting the keyboard. Do you really think Adelaide has enough demand for daily Qantas flights to Auckland and Singapore plus Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo? If there was, do you really think Qantas would just be sitting there saying "Yeah, nah, can't be arsed?". And even if there was half the demand you think there is, where are the aircraft coming from? This is why the A321XLR will be a great fit for Adelaide, "right plane right route", but hey, don't let reality stop you from having a cry.
13 May 2025
Total posts 2
well its better than nothing but seriously only a seasonal service to NZ - what about singapore as well - many adelaide folk have given up flying qantas international as we have more international options direct from adelaide...
22 Mar 2013
Total posts 14
Honestly SQ (rightly) own the route to SIN and AirNZ (rightly) to Auckland.
QF would struggle to compete with the established routes so could perhaps try direct to Tokyo imho
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 402
Wow, if this isn't a token service, I don't know what is. A domestic-configured 737, four times a week. Impressive!
20 Oct 2015
Total posts 279
WTF? "a domestic-configured 737" as opposed to some mythical "internationally-configured 737"? Sure thing, wave your magic wand and let's have a 737 with lie-flat beds just for ADL-AKL. Gotta get your four hours sleep on that route.
25 Nov 2025
Total posts 35
No different to the EK AKL-SYD service with a first class A380. Gotta get your two hours of First Class service on that route to post on YT...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jul 2011
Total posts 66
Love the comments about it being a token flight. I sure hope those in Adelaide use it to prove that there is a market for expansion. Otherwise, you will get nothing.
20 Dec 2017
Total posts 27
The headline is off-the-mark and has set off the usual whingeing. Adelaide already has one-stop flights with Qantas to London, Paris and Rome, and later this year, Jo'burg too. Much better connections and faster flying than ADL used to get. Better timed and then daily to AKL would complete ADL's long-haul offering for JFK and also Dallas transfers via AA's seasonal service. ADL-SIN is to be filled by the A321XLRs, as the airline has already flagged.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 612
How is the headline "off-the-mark"? Qantas IS restarting international flights. "Adelaide already has one-stop flights with Qantas to London, Paris and Rome, and later this year, Jo'burg too." Yeah, and those are great one-stop options, but trying to say this means Qantas already has international flights from Adelaide is like saying for the same reason that Qantas has international flights from Wagga Wagga LOL
20 Dec 2017
Total posts 27
No need for the disengenuiity in this instance. ADL's former one-stop flight to Europe via SIN on QF metal was replaced by one-stop flight by a one-stop flight on QF metal to more destinations in Europe. i.e. It hasn't been left in the lurch. Wagga has never had one stop flights to Europe. The comparison is spurious.
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