The top line: Qantas Airways has said it will suspend flights to Shanghai from 28 July but announced a new route from Brisbane to Manila starting in late October, as well as additional flights to Singapore.
The bigger picture: The announcement comes nine months after the Australian flag carrier resumed service from Sydney on hopes of a travel rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic.
International flight numbers to and from China are about 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and have been slower to recover than in other markets because of fewer tourists and a domestic economic slowdown.
The key quote: “In some months, our flights to and from Shanghai have been operating around half-full.” — Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.
What else to know: Qantas aircraft on the Shanghai route will be redirected to other destinations across Asia with higher demand or new tourism opportunities, the company said.
What happens next: The company said it will continue to monitor the Australia-China market closely and resume direct flights to Shanghai when demand has recovered.