{"id":84767,"date":"2025-02-23T14:53:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-23T09:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=84767"},"modified":"2025-02-23T14:53:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T09:23:30","slug":"qantas-suspends-melbourne-delhi-flights-while-air-india-suspends-mumbai-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/23\/qantas-suspends-melbourne-delhi-flights-while-air-india-suspends-mumbai-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Qantas Suspends Melbourne-Delhi Flights While Air India Suspends Mumbai Flights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SYDNEY-<\/strong> Qantas (QF)<\/a> has suspended its nonstop flights between Melbourne (MEL)<\/a> and Delhi (DEL)<\/a>, citing fleet and operational constraints. The airline will revert to a seasonal schedule, with services pausing in May and resuming in October 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This decision follows Air India’s (AI)<\/a> suspension of Melbourne (MEL) – Mumbai (BOM)<\/a> flights, signaling challenges in sustaining direct air connectivity between Australia and India. Qantas remains committed to the Indian market through alternative routes and partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Qantas Suspends Melbourne-Delhi Flights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Qantas (QF) informed travel agents of its decision to suspend nonstop flights between Melbourne International Airport (MEL) and Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final Qantas QF69 flight before the suspension will operate on May 31, with services scheduled to resume on October 27, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airline attributed this move to “current fleet and operational requirements,” specifically affecting the Airbus A330<\/a> aircraft deployed on the route. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business class passengers will be rerouted via Qantas’ Melbourne (MEL) – Hong Kong (HKG) service, while economy passengers will be accommodated through Qantas flights to Singapore (SIN)<\/a>, connecting with IndiGo\u2019s (6E)<\/a> codeshare flights to Delhi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qantas emphasized its ongoing commitment to the Indian market, maintaining its Bengaluru (BLR)<\/a> services and codeshare partnerships via Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Melbourne-Delhi route, launched in December 2021, has been operated with an Airbus A330-200. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The typical flight, QF69, departs Melbourne at 10:04 and lands in Delhi after a 12-hour journey. The return flight, QF70, leaves Delhi in the evening and arrives in Melbourne the following afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qantas operates a fleet of 26 A330 aircraft, including 10 A330-300s and 16 A330-200s, with three of the latter currently inactive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Qantas has been wet leasing two Airbus A330-300s from Finnair (AY)<\/a>, crewed by Finnair pilots and cabin staff, to support its Australia-Singapore and Australia-Bangkok routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Photo: avgeekwithlens\/ Harsh Tekriwal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finnair Wet Lease Agreements Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since May 2023, Qantas has leased two Airbus A330s from Finnair under a wet lease arrangement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This agreement will transition into a dry lease by late 2025, allowing Qantas pilots and crew to operate these aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finnair pilots have been engaged in a prolonged pay dispute, but Qantas has stated that this has not affected its services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airline remains in regular discussions with Finnair and has mitigation plans in place should disruptions arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qantas\u2019 seasonal suspension coincides with Air India’s decision to halt Melbourne-Mumbai flights from March 28 until at least mid-September 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once Qantas suspends its Melbourne-Delhi route in May, Air India will be the sole airline offering direct Melbourne-Delhi flights, operating daily with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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