SYDNEY- Qantas (QF) and Jetstar (JQ) are gearing up for one of their most bustling Christmas holiday travel seasons in years while consistently investing in enhancing the customer experience.
Anticipating more than 8.5 million passengers, December and January are expected to witness over 70,000 flights by Qantas and Jetstar combined. This marks an increase of over half a million passengers compared to the same period last year and represents the highest numbers since 2019-20.
Qantas Christmas Holiday Flights
The peak day for travel across the group is projected to be Friday, December 15, with an estimated 150,000 customers taking to the skies throughout the day.
Qantas and Jetstar are going the extra mile to get ready for the summer peak, aiming to provide a safe and seamless travel experience during this exceptionally busy period.
Qantas, maintaining its position as the most punctual major domestic airline for the last 14 months, has also achieved the lowest cancellations over the past six months.
The airline’s dedicated focus remains on consistently ensuring that customers reach their destinations on time. Meanwhile, Jetstar has experienced significant performance improvements leading into summer, benefitting from resolving supply chain issues and adding new aircraft to its fleet.
Additional Measures for Seamless Customer Experience
Several supplementary measures have been implemented for the summer peak, including:
- Up to 13 jet aircraft, including an Airbus A380, will be on standby as ‘operational spares’ to provide an additional buffer in case of disruptions.
- There has been a significant increase in the number of reserve staff available to be called upon in the event of unexpected sick leave.
- Over the past 12 months, almost 3,300 additional operational employees, such as cabin crew, pilots, engineers, and airport customer service staff, have been recruited to accommodate the rise in-flight activities.
- Maintenance work on Qantas and Jetstar aircraft has been accelerated. This involves a targeted fleet health program at Qantas’ engineering facility in Brisbane, specifically focusing on Boeing 737 aircraft.
- Collaboration with industry partners is underway to ensure extra staff availability during peak periods. This includes having additional ground handlers on standby and additional airport security screeners.
In the current fiscal year, Qantas is allocating $230 million towards various initiatives to address concerns and enhance the overall customer experience. Notable enhancements already implemented comprise an increase in Frequent Flyer reward seats, a substantial upgrade to the Qantas app featuring baggage tracking, improved in-flight catering, and more generous customer recovery measures in the case of significant flight delays.
More International Flights
Aligned with the sustained high demand for international travel, the Qantas Group is significantly increasing its international capacity this summer compared to the previous year, including:
- Qantas has more than doubled its Australia-Japan flights, catering to the numerous Australians embarking on skiing holidays in the upcoming months.
- Flights to New York from Sydney have resumed, now with a layover in Auckland.
- Since the reopening of borders, shanghai-Sydney flights have recommenced, marking the final international destination to be reintegrated into Qantas’ pre-COVID network.
- Jetstar is set to commence flights between Melbourne and Fiji this week.
As previously communicated, the Group anticipates that international capacity will return to pre-COVID levels by the middle of next year, currently operating at approximately 90 per cent of those levels.
Some Popular Destinations
During the upcoming holidays, some of the most sought-after international destinations include Bali, Auckland, Singapore, Tokyo, and London. Domestically, popular summer holiday spots encompass the Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne, and Perth.
Throughout December and January, Jetstar will offer flights for more than one million people under $100, and frequent flyers will have access to hundreds of thousands of Classic Reward Seats across Qantas, Jetstar, and partner airlines.
For those yet to finalize holiday plans, exploring mid-week fares for the best value is recommended. Jetstar is still featuring one-way fares starting from $66 from Sydney to the Gold Coast and $199 from Melbourne to Singapore in January. On the other hand, Qantas offers one-way fares starting from $155 from Sydney to Melbourne and $169 from Adelaide to Hobart.
Customers holding a Qantas COVID credit can utilize their credit until December 31, 2023, with these bookings being eligible for double Qantas Points. To avail of the double points promotion, customers need to register and book an eligible flight with a QF flight number by December 31, 2023. Refund options for COVID credit are available at any time.
Tips for Hasslefree Travel
Complete your online check-in, which is available on the web and through the Qantas and Jetstar apps for domestic flights.
Arrive ahead of time; reaching the airport at least 1-2 hours before departure for domestic flights and 2-3 hours for international flights is recommended.
Adhere to baggage limits by checking restrictions for both cabin and checked baggage prior to your journey. Bringing excess cabin baggage can potentially cause flight delays.
Exercise patience and show respect; considering the increased number of travelers during the summer, certain aspects of air travel, such as security screening, may take longer than usual.
Please be patient and courteous to airport staff, crew, and fellow passengers. Remember that adverse weather conditions and air traffic control issues can contribute to delays and cancellations.
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