News & Discussion: Adelaide Airport & Airlines

[Pistol]

What’s the frequency? Daily?

[Norman]

What’s the frequency? Daily?

4 flights per week, on a seasonal basis.

[arki]

I'm just trying to make sense of Qantas relaunching international flights from Adelaide with *this* route as I wouldn't think it as being that competitive, but I'm happy for someone with the knowledge on the topic to come at me on this.

In short, QF can claim after being badgered to death by state gov that they have returned international service to ADL, despite putting as little effort as possible into the endeavor by flying a glorified greyhound across the Tasman on a seasonal basis for half a week.

[rev]

I wonder (or hope, rather) this might be a stepping stone for Qantas announcing flights from Adelaide to New York (stop-over/re-fueling in Auckland)? Better yet, with United Airlines coming to Adelaide whether they might consider this as a secondary route? Seeing as Auckland are positioning themselves further as a link for AUS to the USA.

It has taken QANTAS a very long time to announce this as its first international flight from Adelaide and you are hoping for a stop-over? That would mean a wide-body and not a Boeing 737-800. As for flights to JFK: QANTAS (oneworld) have 4 flights a week; Air New Zealand (Star Alliance) 6 times a week. Take your pick.

Cheers

I'm just trying to make sense of Qantas relaunching international flights from Adelaide with *this* route as I wouldn't think it as being that competitive, but I'm happy for someone with the knowledge on the topic to come at me on this.

You don't find it odd that this announcement, with an added emphasis that South Australians will have flight options to the USA via Auckland with Qantas, coming hot on the heels of United announcing direct flights to the US out of Adelaide?

Theyre probably heading their options with the seasonal thing hoping the one stop setup wins people over more then United direct to the US flight..

[rogue]

Qantas are selling this as 1 stop to USA east coast, whereas United are direct to west coast. Very different propositions

[Jaymz]

This announcement is so underwhelming by Qantas that they try to talk it up as a 1 stop connection to New York. Pathetic.

[VinyTapestry849]

I wonder (or hope, rather) this might be a stepping stone for Qantas announcing flights from Adelaide to New York (stop-over/re-fueling in Auckland)? Better yet, with United Airlines coming to Adelaide whether they might consider this as a secondary route? Seeing as Auckland are positioning themselves further as a link for AUS to the USA.

It has taken QANTAS a very long time to announce this as its first international flight from Adelaide and you are hoping for a stop-over? That would mean a wide-body and not a Boeing 737-800. As for flights to JFK: QANTAS (oneworld) have 4 flights a week; Air New Zealand (Star Alliance) 6 times a week. Take your pick.

Cheers

I'm just trying to make sense of Qantas relaunching international flights from Adelaide with *this* route as I wouldn't think it as being that competitive, but I'm happy for someone with the knowledge on the topic to come at me on this.

Mate this route is simply to appease the state government and federal government (who were also pressuring Qantas to resume an Adelaide international route). Qantas couldn’t have put less effort into this route if they tried. It’s not even year round, it’s seasonal.

Just another reason to boycott Qantas for the other amazing, top-notch carriers who fly here, like Singapore, Qatar, emirates, and soon United airlines

[dbl96]

I'm just trying to make sense of Qantas relaunching international flights from Adelaide with *this* route as I wouldn't think it as being that competitive, but I'm happy for someone with the knowledge on the topic to come at me on this.

Mate this route is simply to appease the state government and federal government (who were also pressuring Qantas to resume an Adelaide international route). Qantas couldn’t have put less effort into this route if they tried. It’s not even year round, it’s seasonal.

Just another reason to boycott Qantas for the other amazing, top-notch carriers who fly here, like Singapore, Qatar, emirates, and soon United airlines

But why not launch on a route like Adelaide-Christchurch, where there is proven demand and no competition? Surely that would make them more money. We already have Air NZ to Aukland, so it doesn't really add anything to accessibility from Adelaide. Same goes for the Adelaide-Singapore option they were talking about previously. We are expected to lap it up just because they are the national carrier.

[Jaymz]

Qantas were smart not to take on SIA to Singapore, they would've ended up with a black eye and a fat lip in no time at all. They might even get the same result with this Auckland route.

[VinyTapestry849]

I'm just trying to make sense of Qantas relaunching international flights from Adelaide with *this* route as I wouldn't think it as being that competitive, but I'm happy for someone with the knowledge on the topic to come at me on this.

Mate this route is simply to appease the state government and federal government (who were also pressuring Qantas to resume an Adelaide international route). Qantas couldn’t have put less effort into this route if they tried. It’s not even year round, it’s seasonal.

Just another reason to boycott Qantas for the other amazing, top-notch carriers who fly here, like Singapore, Qatar, emirates, and soon United airlines

But why not launch on a route like Adelaide-Christchurch, where there is proven demand and no competition? Surely that would make them more money. We already have Air NZ to Aukland, so it doesn't really add anything to accessibility from Adelaide. Same goes for the Adelaide-Singapore option they were talking about previously. We are expected to lap it up just because they are the national carrier.

Exactly, there’s no point to Qantas anymore. They’re not competitive. They were too lazy and too late. Adelaide has moved on without them.

[Smithy84]

Cathay Pacific back in mid November.

Seasonal until March. 3 times a week on A350-900.

[A-Town]

Cathay Pacific back in mid November.

Seasonal until March. 3 times a week on A350-900.

Was it a seasonal service pre-Covid?

[Smithy84]

I don’t believe so.

[Norman]

No, it wasn't seasonal, but there was a period where it operated a triangle route between Hong Kong, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Hopefully demand is good enough to reinstate their service year-round, but it has a lot of competition now from an improved Singapore Airlines service.

[Ho Really]

Cathay Pacific back in mid November.

Seasonal until March. 3 times a week on A350-900.

From 11 November 2025 until 27 March 2026

CX173 HKG 2330 – 1030+1 ADL Airbus A350-900 (TUE, THU, SAT)
CX174 ADL 1200 – 1740 HKG Airbus A350-900 (WED, FRI, SUN)

Cheers