SYDNEY- Qantas (QF) has suspended its nonstop flights between Melbourne (MEL) and Delhi (DEL), citing fleet and operational constraints. The airline will revert to a seasonal schedule, with services pausing in May and resuming in October 2025.
This decision follows Air India’s (AI) suspension of Melbourne (MEL) – Mumbai (BOM) flights, signaling challenges in sustaining direct air connectivity between Australia and India. Qantas remains committed to the Indian market through alternative routes and partnerships.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrQantas Suspends Melbourne-Delhi Flights
Qantas (QF) informed travel agents of its decision to suspend nonstop flights between Melbourne International Airport (MEL) and Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
The final Qantas QF69 flight before the suspension will operate on May 31, with services scheduled to resume on October 27, 2025.
The airline attributed this move to “current fleet and operational requirements,” specifically affecting the Airbus A330 aircraft deployed on the route.
Business class passengers will be rerouted via Qantas’ Melbourne (MEL) – Hong Kong (HKG) service, while economy passengers will be accommodated through Qantas flights to Singapore (SIN), connecting with IndiGo’s (6E) codeshare flights to Delhi.
Qantas emphasized its ongoing commitment to the Indian market, maintaining its Bengaluru (BLR) services and codeshare partnerships via Singapore.
The Melbourne-Delhi route, launched in December 2021, has been operated with an Airbus A330-200.
The typical flight, QF69, departs Melbourne at 10:04 and lands in Delhi after a 12-hour journey. The return flight, QF70, leaves Delhi in the evening and arrives in Melbourne the following afternoon.
Qantas operates a fleet of 26 A330 aircraft, including 10 A330-300s and 16 A330-200s, with three of the latter currently inactive.
Additionally, Qantas has been wet leasing two Airbus A330-300s from Finnair (AY), crewed by Finnair pilots and cabin staff, to support its Australia-Singapore and Australia-Bangkok routes.
Photo: Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalFinnair Wet Lease Agreements Impact
Since May 2023, Qantas has leased two Airbus A330s from Finnair under a wet lease arrangement.
This agreement will transition into a dry lease by late 2025, allowing Qantas pilots and crew to operate these aircraft.
Finnair pilots have been engaged in a prolonged pay dispute, but Qantas has stated that this has not affected its services.
The airline remains in regular discussions with Finnair and has mitigation plans in place should disruptions arise.
Qantas’ seasonal suspension coincides with Air India’s decision to halt Melbourne-Mumbai flights from March 28 until at least mid-September 2025.
Once Qantas suspends its Melbourne-Delhi route in May, Air India will be the sole airline offering direct Melbourne-Delhi flights, operating daily with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.
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