Australian Oneworld carrier Qantas has announced a significant capacity increase out of Singapore Changi Airport later this year, with a second flight to Brisbane added to the roster two days per week from late October, plus a third option to Sydney operating three days per week from mid-December.

The new flights will be operated by the carrier’s Airbus A330s, offering 27 seats in Business Class with a 1-2-1 direct aisle access configuration and either 243 or 269 seats in a 2-4-2 Economy Class layout.

By mid-December 2024, once these new flights are in operation, Qantas will offer over 17,700 seats per week out of Changi, though that does remain 7% below pre-pandemic levels, based on the same week in December 2019.

Qantas is also restarting its Brisbane – Manila route from October this year, after a 10-year hiatus, with four times weekly service using Airbus A330 aircraft, however all of these increases come at the expense of the carrier’s five times weekly Sydney – Shanghai services, which will be axed from 28th July 2024.

The Aussie carrier said in a statement that demand on its Shanghai route “has not recovered as anticipated” post-COVID, but noted that its Hong Kong flights from both Sydney and Melbourne will continue to operate.

Brisbane schedule

Qantas currently operates a daily service between Singapore and Brisbane, but from 28th October 2024 this will be supplemented by two additional weekly flights on Fridays and Sundays, as shown below.

Qantas
Singapore Brisbane
From 28th October 2024

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	QF52 A330
SIN 19:30		BNE 05:40*
	QF54 A330
SIN 23:40		BNE 09:20*
	QF51 A330
BNE 10:35		SIN 16:45
	QF53 A330
BNE 15:40		SIN 21:50

* Next day

These new flights operate at a later timing compared to the regular QF52/51 service, with QF54 going wheels-up from Changi at 11.40pm, allowing you to maximise your day in Singapore before heading to the airport, with a mid-morning arrival into Brisbane at 9.20am the following day.

In the return direction, QF53 from Brisbane to Singapore offers a mid-afternoon 3.40pm departure from the Queensland capital, getting you into the Lion City just before 10pm the same evening.

These additional flights are permanent additions, retained through to the end of the published schedule, until at least May 2025.

Sydney schedule

Qantas currently operates twice daily between Singapore and Sydney, but from 11th December 2024 this will be supplemented by three additional flights per week.

These will be on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from Singapore to Sydney, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from Sydney to Singapore, as shown below.

Qantas
Singapore Sydney
From 11th December 2024

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	QF2 A380
SIN 19:25		SYD 06:15*
	QF292 A330 (AirLounge)
SIN 20:05		SYD 07:10*
	QF82 A330
SIN 20:05		SYD 07:10*
	QF84 A330
SIN 21:05		SYD 08:00*
	QF291 A330 (AirLounge)
SYD 10:55		SIN 16:25
	QF81 A330
SYD 10:55		SIN 16:25
	QF83 A330
SYD 13:35		SIN 19:05
	QF1 A380
SYD 16:20		SIN 21:25

* Next day
AirLounge = Finnair cabin products

The additional QF84 flights will offer the carrier’s latest departure timing from Singapore to Sydney just after 9pm, with arrival in Sydney at 8am the following morning.

In the return direction, QF83 will slot nicely in between the existing late morning and afternoon flights, with a lunchtime 1.35pm departure touching down at Changi shortly after 7pm.

As with the Brisbane route, QF84/83 services will be permanent additions, retained through to the end of the published schedule, until at least May 2025.

Airbus A330 Business Class

These additional flights will be operated using the airline’s Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft, which feature ‘Business Suite’ seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access for all passengers.

Seats are staggered towards or away from the aisle at alternate rows, and recline into a fully-flat 80″ (6 ft 8 in or 203 cm) bed.

Service is usually great, with chatty engaging crew, and the F&B options aren’t too bad either.

Be sure to check out our comprehensive review of this cabin from late 2022, on a Perth – Singapore flight.

It’s also worth noting that six Qantas flights per week between Singapore and Sydney (those numbered QF292/291) are operated using leased Airbus A330s from Finnair, which have the European carrier’s latest AirLounge Business Class seats.

Darwin is also coming

Qantas has also recently announced Singapore Changi Airport’s smallest regional jet service from later this year, with five times weekly 94-seat Embraer E190 flights starting in December 2024.

This will represent the airline’s fifth Australian destination from Singapore, providing competition to SIA on the route for the first time since Jetstar Asia withdrew its Darwin link in 2022.

Qantas Singapore lounges

Qantas operates two lounges at Singapore Changi Airport, for those flying in Business Class, First Class, or holding sufficient Qantas Frequent Flyer or Oneworld loyalty programme status.

The Qantas Singapore International Business Lounge is a great option, including a manned bar, ample shower suites and excellent food options.

The facility has a huge 600-seat capacity, which is much-needed during the evening peak of Qantas departures that includes Airbus A380 services to London and Australia.

The lounge even offers a made-to-order food menu, in addition to a self-serve buffet selection.

Shower facilities are available for those who want to freshen up before their flight, with 20 private shower suites offered in this huge lounge.

There’s also super fast Wi-Fi, clocking in at 62 Mbps during our last visit.

Despite the lack of Champagne, this lounge also boasts a full bar, including Little Creatures on tap.

We reviewed the lounge in September 2019, shortly before it was forced to close due to the pandemic, and aside from a lack of Champagne (sparkling wine is offered), we rate it as among the better Business Class lounges out there.

However, Qantas really ups its game over at the Singapore First Lounge, a fantastic facility catering to its own First Class passengers, Qantas Platinum and Oneworld Emerald status holders, and both Air France and Oneworld First Class guests.

Here you can experience à la carte dining, with an extensive menu rivalling even SIA’s The Private Room.

These new evening departures to Brisbane and Sydney fall within the opening hours of both these lounges.

Award tickets

Here are the one-way miles redemption rates and taxes payable for the Singapore – Sydney and Singapore – Brisbane route, when travelling on a Qantas service.

Qantas Award Rates
(x 1,000 miles)

FFP	Singapore – Sydney Singapore – Brisbane
	Y	PY	J	F
	20.75 +S$104	41.25 +S$104	62 +S$104	82.5 +S$104
	27 +S$145	43 +S$145	63 +S$145	100 +S$145
	32 +S$220		64 +S$220	96 +S$220
	25.2 +S$158	51.3 +S$158	68.4 +S$158	102.6 +S$158

As you can see, British Airways or Qatar Airways Avios provides the best value in Business Class for Qantas redemptions on this route, followed by Asia Miles.

Do be aware that taxes, fees and carrier charges mean adding S$104 to S$220 to your one-way miles outlay, depending on the FFP you’re using.

Qantas is boosting capacity on two of its routes from Singapore later this year, with additional twice weekly Brisbane flights and three times weekly Sydney flights on the roster from late October and mid-December respectively.

This will give the carrier 17,700 departing seats per week out of Changi, on six routes also including Darwin, London, Melbourne and Perth.

Airbus A330s will be used for the additional flights, with the relatively popular ‘Business Suite’ in a 1-2-1 configuration, but don’t forget the Sydney route also offers an opportunity to try out the Finnair AirLounge Business Class hard product, with Qantas service, on six flights per week.

(Cover Photo: Qantas)