Qantas has launched a new route linking Brisbane and San Francisco, a strategic win for both the airline against rivals and for local Australian's alike. The service will be operated with a brand new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and will run three days a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

What are the details?

Qantas has become the first airline to link the two cities of Brisbane, Queensland Australia to San Fransisco, California USA.

The route (QF59), will take around 12-hours and 40 minutes to cover 11,367 km or 6137 nautical miles.

Passengers heading to Australia will almost touch the big island of Hawaii, skirting past its southern coast before trekking over the vast Pacific Ocean. The aircraft will then cross New Caledonia before landing at Brisbane airport.

The flight will be codeshared with American Airlines and accessible to the rest of the OneWorld airline alliance. Brisbane Airport will also be operating additional transfer services between the international and domestic terminals to cater to additional US traffic.

Currently, Qantas only provides direct flights from Sydney (Daily) and Melbourne (four times a week).

As Brisbane is the next major city in Australia following those two (and is strategically located nearby the urban areas of the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, and the Sunshine Coast), it is a smart move by Qantas.

Qantas currently operates daily direct flights from Sydney to San Francisco and four times a week from Melbourne to San Francisco. The new Brisbane flight will operate three days a week on a Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

Brisbane is a focus point for the airline

Readers may also remember that Qantas is going to operate direct routes between Chicago and Brisbane as well. Currently, Chicago is a little far from Sydney and Melbourne, but Brisbane is far enough north to be economically viable. This route between the two (another first) will begin in April.

“These new services will link Australian corporate and leisure travelers with two lynchpin capitals of commerce and culture in the United States. Customers will save around four hours of travel time compared to the one-stop options currently on offer."

Qantas International CEO Tino La Spina said in a press statement that forward bookings on both the new Brisbane routes are performing well.

“There are some inbound tourism benefits too. These direct routes put some of Australia’s most popular destinations like the Whitsundays just a one-stop flight away from a foggy San Francisco morning or a chilly Chicago day, and that’s great news for Queensland and Australian tourism.”

Australia has braved recent bushfires and torrential rain, and this news that a new direct link to the worst affected areas is available from Qantas is good news indeed. Mr La Spina added in the same release,

“It’s been a difficult start to the year for Australian tourism but new routes like this help to stimulate interest and bring more visitors. The message we’re sending to the US is that Australia is very much open for business and it’s easier than ever to get here.”

What do you think about this news? Will you be flying to Brisbane from San Fransisco or Chicago? Let us know in the comments.