Qantas Airways has made headlines this week with the decision to suspend its nonstop flights connecting Melbourne and Delhi. This strategic move, prompted by fleet and operational challenges, raises questions about the airline's commitment to the burgeoning Indian travel market.
The last flight of Qantas flight QF69 between Melbourne International Airport (MEL) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) will take off on May 31, 2025, with plans to resume operations on October 27, 2025. According to reports from Travel and Tour World, the suspension stems from "current fleet and operational requirements, with specific impacts involving the Airbus A330 aircraft used for this route."
Travel agents have been advised of the suspension, leading to potential inconvenience for travelers. Business class customers will be rerouted via Qantas’ Melbourne-Hong Kong service, with travel agents tasked with securing onward connections to India. Economy class passengers will have their flights accommodated through Qantas routes to Singapore (SIN), enabling connections with IndiGo's codeshare flights to Delhi.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Qantas is not withdrawing from the Indian market entirely. The airline has emphasized its commitment, stating, "An important and growing market for Qantas and our Bengaluru services, as well as codeshare flights via Singapore, remain on sale."
The decision to suspend nonstop flights follows Air India's own operational struggles, as they have also halted their Melbourne-Mumbai services from March 28, 2025, until at least mid-September 2025. This suspension suggests underlying challenges with sustaining direct air connectivity between Australia and India, as both airlines are adjusting their operations to accommodate these difficulties.
Qantas' nonstop Melbourne-Delhi route was launched back in December 2021, running on the Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which was known to operate smoothly. Regular flights typically involved departures from Melbourne at 10:04 AM, landing after a 12-hour flight at 4:43 PM local time. The return flight operated as flight QF70 and usually left Delhi at 8:37 PM.
Currently, Qantas' fleet includes 26 A330 aircraft, composed of 10 A330-300s and 16 A330-200s, with three of the latter currently inactive. To cope with operational demands, Qantas has even entered wet lease agreements with Finnair for two Airbus A330-300 jets, crewed by Finnair pilots. This arrangement came after the two airlines announced plans to transition to dry leases by late 2025, allowing Qantas to effectively use its staff to operate those aircraft.
Qantas maintains it has enacted mitigation plans to counter any potential disruptions stemming from the Finnair pilot's prolonged pay disputes. The airline confirmed, "There has been no impact to Qantas' flights as a result of the Finnair pilots' industrial action."
Nonetheless, industry experts suggest these operational changes reflect broader trends affecting air travel between Australia and India, particularly for foreign carriers. The Indian travel market is vast and has significant growth potential, but foreign airlines often find it tough to navigate.
The impending suspension of flights raises concerns about the future dynamics of the market. Once Qantas halts its Melbourne-Delhi service, Air India will stand as the only carrier operating direct flights between these two key cities, offering daily services utilizing their Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.
Looking forward, Qantas is optimistic about resuming the Melbourne-Delhi service. They state, "We look forward to resuming Melbourne-Delhi services in October," signaling their intention to remain engaged with the lucrative Indian market amid the temporary operational set-backs.
This situation certainly calls for close monitoring from passengers and industry watchers alike as both airlines navigate this complex environment. The question remains: can these adjustments lead to improved services and sustainability for Qantas and Air India's offerings between Australia and India?