Qantas defers new long-haul routes until Perth Airport resolution

Qantas said it will not launch new international long-haul services from Australia’s Perth Airport until a dispute with the airport has been resolved. Qantas wanted to introduce a seasonal Perth-Johannesburg route, but the airport would not agree to the airline’s request regarding terminal use. As a result, the airline has shelved a plan for this route, Qantas executives said. In addition, the airline will not announce any more ultra-long-haul flights from Perth to Europe unless the airport meets its request on terminal use, Qantas CE Alan Joyce said. Joyce said he has written to Perth airport to express his concerns about the terminal issue, and is scheduled to meet the airport chairperson “soon. Until this is resolved, we won’t expand [internationally] from Perth,” he said. <br/>