Here are Qantas' domestic flight cancellations from April

Qantas' downsized domestic network sees fewer flights on most routes, and many destination dropped altogether.

By David Flynn, March 20 2020
Here are Qantas' domestic flight cancellations from April

Qantas is cutting flights across its domestic network as the airline right-sizes itself against reduced travel demand in the Covid-19 era.

Most key routes will simply see fewer flights: for example, the normally bustling Sydney-Melbourne corridor will be reduced from 250 return services per week to under 90, while the number of transcontinental flights between the east and west coasts will be halved.

However, many routes – especially regional ones – will be dropped completely, including flights to some destinations which had yet to launch.

Here's a full rundown, based on information shared by Qantas on March 19 2020, of these changes to the Qantas domestic network.

Revised flights for the Qantas 'mainline' network

East Coast capitals

Sydney-Melbourne (88 return services per week, down from 250)

Sydney-Brisbane (50 return services per week, down from 142)

Melbourne-Brisbane (36 return services per week, down from 95) 

East-west

Sydney-Perth (25 return services per week, down from 47)

Melbourne-Perth (22 return services per week, down from 46)

Brisbane-Perth (14 return services per week, down from 35)

Canberra

Sydney-Canberra (38 return services per week, down from 115)

Melbourne-Canberra (38 return services per week, down from 67)

Brisbane-Canberra (15 return services per week, down from 35)

Adelaide-Canberra (7 return services per week, down from 12)

Northern Territory

Sydney-Darwin (7 return services per week, down from 11) 

Brisbane-Darwin (3 return services per week, down from 7)

Adelaide-Alice Springs (7 return services per week, no change)

Sydney-Alice Springs (7 return services per week, no change)

Darwin-Alice Springs (7 return services per week, down from 14)

Darwin-Perth (3 return services per week, down from 7)

Adelaide

Sydney-Adelaide (21 return services per week, down from 54)

Melbourne-Adelaide (27 return services per week, down from 69)

Brisbane-Adelaide (13 return services per week, down from 25)

Perth-Adelaide (14 return services per week, down from 28)

Tasmania

Melbourne-Hobart (9 return services per week, down from 26) 

Sydney-Hobart (7 return services per week, down from 17)

Queensland

Sydney-Gold Coast (14 return services per week, down from 28)

Sydney-Cairns (7 return services per week, down from 14)

Brisbane-Cairns (14 return services per week, down from 38)

Brisbane-Townsville (14 return services per week, down from 36)

Sydney

Albury, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga (around 12 return services per week)

Lord Howe Island (7 return services per week)

Moree (6 return services per week)

Brisbane

Bundaberg (12 return services per week)

Emerald*

Gladstone*

Hamilton Island, Hervey Bay (7 return services per week)

Longreach via Barcaldine or Blackall (7 return services per week)

Mackay (21 return services per week)

Moranbah (23 return services per week)

Roma (19 return services per week)

Charleville (4 return services per week)

Rockhampton*

Mt Isa *

Newcastle (12 return services per week)

Cairns

Townsville*

Horn Island (7 return services per week)

Weipa (13 return services per week)

Townsville

Mount Isa via Cloncurry (9 return services per week) 

Townsville-Mackay-Rockhampton (7 return services per week)

Adelaide

Port Lincoln, Whyalla (7 return services per week)

Kangaroo Island (3 return services per week)

Melbourne

Devonport, Launceston (12 return services per week)

Perth

Geraldton (9 return services per week) 

All other intra-WA regional routes unaffected

new schedule still to be finalised

Adelaide

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Darwin (Direct)

Alice Springs

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Brisbane

Melbourne

Perth

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Cairns

Brisbane

Alice Springs

Lord Howe

Tamworth

Cairns

Hamilton Island

Melbourne

Darwin

Adelaide (direct)

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Broome

Melbourne

Melbourne

Alice Springs

Broome

Darwin

Gold Coast

Hamilton Island

Perth

Alice Springs

Canberra

Sydney

Ballina (Launch delayed)

Bendigo

Broome

Hamilton Island

Mildura (Launch delayed)

Orange (Launch delayed)

Sunshine Coast

Toowoomba (Wellcamp)

Qantas and QantasLink passengers have the option of cancelling their trip for any reason, even when booked on an inflexible fare.

While cash refunds are not being provided unless permitted under normal fare rules, passengers will be able to retain the full value of their booking as a credit voucher which can be used towards the purchase of a future trip, with any normal change fees also waived.

At the time of writing these rules apply to bookings through to 31 May 2020, although this timeframe will be extended if the cancellations continue into the second half of 2020 ( visit qantas.com/booking-changes-and-refunds for the latest information).

Read more: Qantas offers free flight cancellations

Qantas domestic lounges: what's open, what's closed

Qantas will close all Qantas Club lounges and even its invitation-only Chairman's Lounges at most capital city airports, with Qantas Business Lounges – normally the exclusive domain of business class passengers and Platinum-grade frequent flyers – becoming the default destination for all lounge-worthy passengers on domestic flights.

This expanded entry list will now include Gold-grade frequent flyers and Qantas Club members, as well as travellers with a Qantas Lounge pass invitation.

Qantas Club lounges will lock their doors in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with all passengers directed to the nearby and better-appointed Qantas Business Lounge.

Qantas Club lounges will remain open at Alice Springs, Adelaide, Cairns, Coolangatta, Darwin, Hobart and Townsville.

Qantas Regional Lounges will remain open at Broome, Coffs Harbour, Devonport, Emerald Gladstone, Launceston, Kalgoorlie Karratha, Mackay, Port Hedland, Rockhampton and Tamworth.

Read more: Qantas to close all Chairman's Lounges, most Qantas Clubs

A free year of Qantas frequent flyer status

With most of Qantas' 13 million frequent flyers effectively grounded, all Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum One card-holders will see their status automatically extended for 12 months, preserving their perks through to as late as 2022 even if they don't set foot on an airplane.

The gratis status offer also encompasses members who have received a complimentary Gold membership, or complimentary Platinum membership from a Platinum One member.

Read more: Qantas extends frequent flyer status for a full year

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

26 May 2014

Total posts 467

The email I received from Qantas indicated that they might not offer a change of flight for cancelled services. Presumably this would be the case for destinations not served, but could this also happen for routes that still have Qantas services? Rebooking for necessary travel could cost significantly more than the flight credit that would be provided.

Etihad - Etihad Guest

01 Feb 2019

Total posts 4

On the upside for those who have to fly during these crazy times. The on-time performance stats should go up, QC is upgraded to BC and check-in/security lines won't be so mad for a while ;-)

Not that I'm flying any time soon. Platinum to redundant in a week.

Table 1: Total Industry On Time Performance for January 2020
Reporting AirlinesSectors ScheduledArrivals On-Time %Departures On-Time %Cancellations %
Jetstar7 64368.066.02.6
Qantas - all QF designated services18 19277.478.53.1

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

01 Nov 2016

Total posts 129

The aircraft storage process has started today with some 737s going to Avalon into storage. More will follow. See Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane holding a lot of the wide bodied fleet.

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

28 Jun 2019

Total posts 78

To be clear, because neither Qantas nor the author of this article are being so (hopefully inadvertently in the case of the latter... does no one read the Conditions of Carriage?):

Under the section "What to do if your Qantas or QantasLink flight is cancelled" the first sentence reads:

"Qantas and QantasLink passengers have the option of cancelling their trip for any reason, even when booked on an inflexible fare."

No. If your flight is cancelled, that's what it means: Qantas or QantasLink has cancelled your flight. Once they've done that, they owe you either: 1) an alternative route that is "acceptable to you" (their contractual words); or 2) a refund, which is paid back to the form of payment, "unless we agree otherwise" (again, their contractual words). All this talk of passengers having the "option" to cancel an already cancelled flight for a "voucher" doesn't belong in this discussion.

More importantly:

"While cash refunds are not being provided unless permitted under normal fare rules..."

I hope this is the author's words and an accidental confusion between flights Qantas cancels versus trips a passenger cancels, because if this is the line Qantas is going to take for flights they cancel, it will not end well for them, horrendously horrible once-in-a-lifetime crisis or not. Per the Conditions of Carriage they unilaterally drafted, Qantas is not entitled to refuse cash refunds for flights they cancel under their Conditions of Carriage, and these are what matter if Qantas cancels your flight, not your fare rules, which are what applies if you cancel your flight.

It's disappointing (as much as I understand the commercial strategy) to see Qantas take this deliberately ambiguous approach, but that's up to them and hey, it's business. However, sites like these whose stated purpose is to help keep travellers clearly informed of developments, policies and options can and should do better.

20 Oct 2015

Total posts 241

I refer you to https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/travel-updates/coronavirus/booking-changes-and-refunds.html, which is also linked in this article.

"Customers with existing bookings on any remaining international or Australian domestic flight until 31 May 2020, who no longer wish to travel, can cancel their flight and retain the value of their booking as a flight credit."

So yes, passengers can cancel their flight and receive a travel credit voucher. ET is reporting exactly what Qantas has said. The special circumstances in the current environment clearly over-ride the normal 'conditions of carriage'.

Also in the linked ET article about Qantas refunds, here is a direct quote from Qantas to ET: “We have removed the standard change fees, where it applies, and are giving customers the option to cancel their flight and receive a travel voucher that can be used anywhere on our network at a later date.

So there is no change fee applied even if your booking was made on an inflexible Sale or Saver fare.

Regarding refunds, this is also from the Qantas page linked above: "Customers may also be able to cancel their booking and request a refund, however they may be charged a cancellation fee, as per our fare rules."

Also, I think ET has been doing an excellent job of keeping everyone up to date and informed and it can't be easy for the guys to stay on top of things with so much happening so quickly. I see ET publishing articles early morning and late at night and even this morning.

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

28 Jun 2019

Total posts 78

You - and this article - are correct that passengers can "choose" to hit "cancel" in their reservation for a credit.

What is missing, however - from your comment, Qantas, this and other sites - is advice to passengers that when Qantas cancels those flights, they are legally entitled to a cash refund if no suitable alternative flights can be offered if that's what they prefer.

It's a simple difference of who cancels the flight, but both Qantas and many sites continue to present the situation as though the only option for passengers now is to cancel a flight that's already been cancelled and settle for a voucher. That's not true. Qantas is cancelling, not the passenger, yet nowhere do I see Qantas or sites like this one advise people of who prefer a refund that they can simply wait until Qantas formally cancels their bookings to be entitled to one legally. I don't know why that's the case, nor am I suggesting ET is doing it cheekily, but a scan of comments on these articles makes it very clear that many people are confused and asking about this. There is a clear answer; it's just not being widely published.

[By the way, "special circumstances" do not override contractual terms. That's not how contractual law works. If Qantas had wanted to deny people cash refunds for cancellations even outside of their control, they would not have clearly stated the express opposite that they will provide refunds in those cases in their conditions of carriage even when the reason is out of their control. We can downvote that fact all we like, but it's a fact that doesn't care about likes, so I'd refer you to the Conditions of Carriage which take precedence over a web-page presenting a "policy" that conveniently forgets to make note of what happen once Qantas cancels these flights.]

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

26 Sep 2014

Total posts 50

Agree completely which is why I waited for Qantas to announce the cancellation of my specific international flights. After 4-hours on hold I was offered a credit as per the media release however, obtained a full refund after quoting 9.3 of the Conditions of Carriage.

I don't blame ET for muddling the message because Qantas wanted as many people to cancel on their own volition so that they can lock them to a future service in via a credit. The problem with a credit is not only that the poor time window of 12 months from date of issue of the original ticket, but also that it may be worthless if Qantas flies for bankruptcy.

100% this. The travel credit was so restrictive . I waited till qantas cancelled my flight to request for full refund, which they're obliged to do under their own conditions of carriage. Those who panicked or cancelled in advance, not so lucky.

Also I would not trust cancellation via their website which may automatically process refund less cancellation fees, for this reason, I would 100% recommend calling travel agency to confirm.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

20 Oct 2017

Total posts 8

"Customers with existing bookings on any remaining international or Australian domestic flight until 31 May 2020..." So if your flight no longer exists, it is not a remaining flight, and you should not be expected to cancel it. My flight in late April no longer exists, and yet Qantas automated systems have not been in touch. A flight credit is of no benefit, as I no longer have any reason to travel in the next 12 months.

23 Mar 2020

Total posts 1

Does anyone know if this means all flights from Brisbane to Rockhampton are cancelled?

It appears that the QANTAS Conditions of Carriage have been modified and 9.3 is missing (see vperez post above). The conditions appear to be dynamic and dateless - does anyone have a copy of the conditions before 9.3 was removed? I want my money back as I don't think QANTAS will exist in its current form in 12 months time.

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

28 Jun 2019

Total posts 78

The relevant sections are 9.2 and 13.3. I've just checked and both are there. 9.2 sets out that you are entitled to a refund for cancelled flights even if the reason for cancellation is within Qantas' control, and 13.3 sets out how that refund is provided, and specifically back to the form of payment used.

Ok - Excellent! Many thanks Flying Kangaroo!

26 Mar 2020

Total posts 1

I was wondering what the chances are of our Qantas points being worth the same as they are now, following this current crisis. I have quite a few up my sleeve and don't want to spend them at their on-line shopping store. Would definitely rather keep them to fly business overseas on my next holiday (hopefully in 2021, if not 2022).

Any thoughts?


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