Qantas is adding a route that stands out even in a crowded long-haul market. The airline will launch the first nonstop flights between Australia and Las Vegas, with seasonal service between Sydney and Las Vegas set to begin on December 29, 2026. The route will run through March 12, 2027, and Qantas says cutting out a stop in another U.S. city can save travelers up to five hours. The new service also becomes the 101st destination in the Qantas network and its eighth city in North and South America.
The flights are already on sale, and Qantas plans to time the service around busy periods in Las Vegas, including the Consumer Electronics Show and the National Rugby League’s Las Vegas Festival. That makes the route useful for both leisure travelers and event-driven demand, especially since Qantas says its recent charter flights to Las Vegas for NRL fans have been fully booked for three straight years.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said strong demand is driving the airline’s decision to keep building out seasonal flying. “Australians’ appetite for international travel continues to be incredibly strong. Rome and Sapporo have shown us there’s real demand for seasonal services to destinations people want to visit at certain times of year, and we’re continuing to expand those direct connections around the world,” Mr Wallace said. “Our historic fleet renewal is giving us the flexibility to deploy aircraft where we see demand, opening up route possibilities that simply weren’t there before. Las Vegas becomes our 101st destination and is a great example of how we’re using that capability. This growth also creates real opportunities for our people, particularly our pilots and cabin crew, as we expand where we fly,” said Mr Wallace.
A Dreamliner route built around seasonal demand
Qantas will operate the new Sydney to Las Vegas service three times a week on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with flights scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The outbound flight, QF55, is set to leave Sydney at 9:00 p.m. and arrive in Las Vegas at 3:55 p.m., with a flight time of about 13 hours and 55 minutes.
The choice of Las Vegas also reflects how strong the Australian market already is for the city. Steve Hill, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said, “Australia has consistently ranked as our second-largest overseas market and our top international market without a nonstop flight. More than 250,000 Australians visit each year, drawn by the breadth and depth of experiences Las Vegas offers. We are grateful to Qantas for their partnership and confidence in our city,” said Mr Hill.
Australia’s trade and tourism officials also see the route as a two-way benefit. Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell said that direct flights will make travel easier not only for Australians heading to Nevada, but also for U.S. visitors flying to Australia. “The flow of people between our countries has never been stronger. Last year 745,000 Americans visited Australia, and we look forward to welcoming even more visitors down under with the commencement of these new direct flights,” said Mr Farrell.
For Qantas, this is another example of how it is using the Boeing 787 to open routes that need long range, solid economics, and the ability to match demand at specific times of year. Instead of adding another year-round service, the airline is focusing on a seasonal window when Las Vegas is at its busiest and when nonstop travel has a strong pull for both tourism and events. That gives Qantas a direct way to test and grow demand on a route that had no nonstop option before.
Post Comment