Qantas customers can now fly from Brisbane to the Philippines in one hop with the Flying Kangaroo’s nonstop flights to Manila taking off this week, reinforcing its commitment to the region and offering a convenient gateway to the vibrant Philippine capital.
The inaugural flight departed Brisbane on Monday evening and will operate four times per week using the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft, adding more than 100,000 seats between Australia and the Philippines every year. The route adds to Qantas’ existing daily services from Sydney to Manila, further strengthening the airline’s presence in this key market.
The new flight will also improve connectivity for passengers travelling to the Philippines from New Zealand, with easy connections in both directions from Auckland and Christchurch to Manila via Brisbane.
Qantas has a long history of operations in the Philippines, having first touched down with Lancastrian aircraft in 1947 supporting Australian Government military operations, before introducing Super Constellation passenger services in 1950. The first jet flights between Australia and Manila commenced in 1961 with Boeing 707 services flying from Sydney and forgoing the need of a stopover for the first time.
Today, the Flying Kangaroo operates over 300,000 seats between Australia and Philippines every year and will celebrate 75 years of passenger services between the two countries in 2025.
Comments from Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace:
“The Philippines is a very strong market for Qantas and we are pleased to be responding to demand for our services with new flights from Brisbane.
“We know a lot of customers travel to Manila via Sydney, so this new direct flight will make it easier and faster for Queenslanders to get to the Philippines in a single hop.
“With a fascinating history and culture, a vast archipelago of over 7,000 islands and hospitality known the world over, the Philippines is a fantastic destination for Australians thinking about their next getaway.
Comments from Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff:
“The addition of this Qantas service further strengthens Brisbane Airport’s connections into Southeast Asia.
“The Philippines is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a key trading partner for Queensland. With our state home to a vibrant Filipino community, the business and tourism opportunities generated by this expanded connectivity will no doubt be a success.”
The launch follows the Flying Kangaroo’s recent expansion to its international network from Brisbane, with new flights to Palau as well as an upgrade of some of its Auckland and Los Angeles services to the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The national carrier also recently commenced services from Brisbane to Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila and has added an extra two flights per week to Singapore.
Key information
- QF97 Brisbane to Manila operates four times per week, departing on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
- Flight time is approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes.
- Qantas services between Australia and the Philippines are operated by its fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft with 27 business class suites in 1-2-1 configuration, each featuring direct aisle access and converting into a lie-flat bed, and 269 economy seats.
- All Qantas international fares include checked baggage allowance, food and beverages and inflight entertainment with every booking.
- Fares on the new Qantas flights are available at qantas.com or via Travel Agents.
