Aviation roundup: Qantas, Vietnam Airlines and more

Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes and codeshare partnerships

Qantas to connect Sydney and Cape Town
Qantas will commence non-stop flights between Sydney and Cape Town from October 19, 2027 to March 24, 2028, operating three times weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The seasonal service will use Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, adding almost 30,000 seats between Australia and South Africa.

The new route will complement Qantas’ existing non-stop services linking Perth and Sydney with Johannesburg, expanding its network between the two countries.

Vietnam Airlines begins Ahmedabad-Hanoi service
Vietnam Airlines began direct flights between Ahmedabad and Hanoi on November 3, 2026, marking its entry into Gujarat and making Ahmedabad its fifth destination in India.

The service operates four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, providing connections from Gujarat to Vietnam Airlines’ domestic and international network via Hanoi.

SWISS deploys Airbus A350 on Mumbai route
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will introduce Airbus A350-900 aircraft on its Zurich-Mumbai route from December 15, 2026, bringing its SWISS Senses cabin product to India for the first time.

The aircraft will operate daily until January 3, 2027, before switching to six weekly flights from January 4. SWISS will continue serving Mumbai daily, using other aircraft for the remaining frequency.

The A350 deployment is currently planned for the 2026/27 winter schedule, replacing Airbus A330 aircraft on selected services. The aircraft features redesigned cabins and updated inflight entertainment systems.

Vietjet expands network with four international routes
Vietjet will operate four international routes connecting Vietnam with Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives between December 2026 and February 2027.

The airline will begin direct flights from Danang to Osaka and Jakarta on December 20, 2026, with both routes operating four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Danang-Osaka service will use Airbus A321 aircraft.

From February 9, 2027, Vietjet will roll out flights from Hanoi to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives via Colombo, with both services operating three times weekly.

The new routes will expand Vietjet’s network in Asia, complementing its existing Ho Chi Minh City-Colombo service and planned Ho Chi Minh City-Maldives flights via Colombo.

Vietjet currently operates 138 flights weekly between Vietnam and Japan, serving six Japanese cities through its scheduled network, alongside charter services to other destinations.