Qantas considers new long-haul routes from Perth using Airbus A321XLRs

Currently, Qantas operates six international routes from Perth: Auckland, Johannesburg, London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Rome Fiumicino, and Singapore. The A321XLR could potentially replace existing widebody service on routes such as Auckland and Singapore with increased frequency due to the smaller size of the new jets.

Looking at potential new destinations within range from Perth based on booking data between July 2024 and June 2025 reveals several unserved markets. These include Christchurch (36,000 round-trip passengers), Hanoi (31,000), Wellington (24,000), Queenstown (23,000), Mumbai (19,000), Colombo (18,000), and Bengaluru (12,000). Delhi was identified as having over 50,000 round-trip passengers but lies just beyond the feasible range for the XLR when fully loaded.

A significant portion—over 250,000 round-trip local passengers—traveled between Perth and South Asia during this period by connecting through other Asian hubs such as Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. More than two-thirds were traveling to or from India—a market that continues to grow rapidly out of Perth.

Although Delhi represents Perth's largest unserved international market by passenger volume at present distances involved make it unsuitable for direct service using the XLR with a full payload. Instead Bengaluru emerges as a likely candidate given its distance from Perth is approximately 3,482 nautical miles (6,449 km)—within operational limits of the new aircraft type.

Despite relatively modest current traffic volumes between Perth and Bengaluru—about 12,000 round-trip passengers—the route could benefit from Qantas' codeshare partnership with IndiGo in India. Since launching Sydney-Bengaluru flights in 2022 under this arrangement nearly four out of ten travelers connected onward via IndiGo flights in Bengaluru.

However local demand remains an important factor; Sydney-Bengaluru saw much higher passenger numbers even before nonstop service began there compared to what might be expected initially from Perth-Bengaluru flights. Nonstop options typically help stimulate local traffic growth which tends to yield higher revenues than connecting itineraries.

"Due to Qantas' codeshare agreement with IndiGo," notes industry sources,"Australia's flag carrier already serves Bengaluru from Sydney." They add: "It has done so since 2022...approximately four in ten passengers connected to an IndiGo-operated flight in Bengaluru."

Qantas was founded in 1920 and operates as a full-service carrier with major hubs at Brisbane Airport,M elbourne Airport,and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport under IATA code QF/ICAO code QFA.