To enhance travel options for Filipinos heading to Australia, Qantas has launched new nonstop flights from Manila to Brisbane, Queensland.
The Australian national carrier will operate the Airbus A330 four times per week, adding approximately 100,000 seats annually between the Philippines and Australia. This new service complements Qantas’ existing daily flights to Sydney.
Qantas first began operations in the Philippines in 1947, initially providing support for Australian military operations. Passenger services commenced in 1950, with the introduction of the Super Constellation in 1955. The airline marked a significant milestone in 1961 with its first jet flights from Manila, using Boeing 707 aircraft to fly directly to Sydney, eliminating the need for stopovers.
Currently, Qantas offers over 300,000 seats annually between the Philippines and Australia and is set to celebrate 75 years of passenger services between the two countries in 2025. The new Brisbane route also facilitates connections for travelers heading to New Zealand, with options to fly to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown via Brisbane.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace expressed enthusiasm about the new service, stating, “The Philippines is a very strong market for Qantas, and we are pleased to be responding to demand for our services with the addition of flights to Brisbane. We know a lot of our customers travel to Brisbane via Sydney, so this new direct flight will make it easier and faster for Filipinos to get to Queensland in a single hop aboard the Flying Kangaroo.”
Key details for travelers include the following: Flight QF98 departs from Manila to Brisbane at 2:45 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with a flight duration of approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes. Qantas operates these services with Airbus A330-200 aircraft, featuring 27 business class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access, lie-flat beds, and 269 economy seats.
All international fares with Qantas include checked baggage allowance, meals, beverages, and in-flight entertainment. Tickets for the new flights are available at qantas.com/ph or through travel agents.
