Qantas Group has moved quickly to capitalise on the freshly expanded Australia–Indonesia air-services agreement, filing an application with the International Air Services Commission (IASC) on 5 October for an additional 4,539 seats per week in each direction. The request would allow Qantas and its low-cost arm Jetstar to launch three new routes—Brisbane – Denpasar, Western Sydney – Denpasar and Perth – Jakarta—and to boost Melbourne – Jakarta from four times weekly to daily. The bid follows September’s bilateral announcement that lifted each side’s capacity cap by 5,000 seats per week. Australian carriers had already maxed out their previous allocation, with Jetstar dominating the leisure-heavy Bali market and Qantas focusing on Jakarta services from Sydney and Melbourne. By securing the lion’s share of the new capacity, Qantas aims to pre-empt rival Virgin Australia, which is still ‘considering its options’ according to industry sources. If approved, the move would strengthen Brisbane’s international connectivity, offer Western Sydney International Airport its first nonstop to Bali ahead of the airport’s 2027 opening, and give Perth its only Qantas-branded link to Jakarta—a route currently served only by Garuda and Batik Air. Qantas plans to use Boeing 737-800s and Jetstar A321neoLRs initially, before shifting Melbourne – Jakarta to long-range A321XLR aircraft in late 2027. For corporate travel managers, the expanded network promises more nonstop options into Indonesia’s commercial capital and key leisure hub, potentially lowering fares and reducing connection times via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Mobility teams should, however, watch for peak-season yield management, as Qantas seeks a five-year allocation that would lock competitors out of the new seats. The IASC is expected to open a public consultation this week. Indonesian authorities must also approve reciprocal capacity for Garuda and other local carriers, meaning the first flights are unlikely before mid-December 2026. Travel buyers should review contracted fares and prepare for schedule filings once slots are confirmed.
Source: Aero South Pacific
