Qantas looks to move in on Haneda as Virgin bows out

Qantas has swooped on the Tokyo (Haneda) capacity vacated by Virgin, with plans for three daily A330-300 flights from Australia’s east coast. The Flying Kangaroo, which currently operates two daily Sydney–Haneda services, is looking to fly once each per day from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from 30 March next year, while maintaining connections to Tokyo’s other major international airport at Narita. Qantas has applied to the International Air Services Commission (IASC) for the seats, which are set to be freed up when Virgin Australia ends its daily Cairns-Haneda service on 24 February next year. It currently flies daily from Melbourne and Brisbane to Narita in addition to its Sydney-Haneda route. “It is anticipated that a third daily service will commence with an Airbus A330 aircraft configured with 297 seats,” wrote Qantas’ executive manager for policy, industry and international affairs, Anna Pritchard, in the airline’s application to the IASC. “It is planned that Qantas will serve Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to/from Tokyo-Haneda with the addition of a third daily service.” Virgin announced earlier this year that it would end its low-performing Cairns-Haneda service despite it only having launched last June, with its 737 MAX 8s being reassigned to domestic routes. The route was the second-worst for capacity in Virgin’s international network; unlike most of the airline’s international services, the route relied heavily on inbound travel, which turned out below its forecasts and was weighed down by a weak yen against the Australian dollar.<br/>