Qantas to start new route Perth to Jakarta

[PERLHR]

B737 equipment from 14 Dec 2026. Going head to head with Batik although probably on alternate days...

 

[Saab34]

I believe it’s Qantas ‘requests’ to operate. Virgin will likely get a portion of the capacity so seems unlikely.

 

[AIRwin]

B737 equipment from 14 Dec 2026. Going head to head with Batik although probably on alternate days...

Applying for daily services:

H

Post in thread 'Updated Air Services agreement between Australia and Indonesia'

Today at 1:12 PM

Qantas Group has applied to IASC for additional capacity on the Indonesia route.

They are requesting 4,539 seats per week in each direction.

They propose the following new services:

• 1 daily: Perth - Jakarta operated by a Qantas 737-800 from December 2026
• 1 daily: Western Sydney - Denpasar operated by a Jetstar A321LR from March 2027
• 1 daily: Brisbane - Denpasar operated by a Qantas 737-800 from August 2027

On the Melbourne - Jakarta route:

• increase to 4 weekly on the A330 from March 2027, then daily on the A321XLR from October 2027

Source...

• Harrison_133

• 

 

[PERLHR]

I believe it’s Qantas ‘requests’ to operate. Virgin will likely get a portion of the capacity so seems unlikely.

When you say Virgin will likely get a portion of the capacity.....what does that mean?

 

[Saab34]

When you say Virgin will likely get a portion of the capacity.....what does that mean?

Virgin has yet to submit its proposal, id expect this shortly, and its clear they will ask for a similar amount. In prior allocations VA has always waited for QF to file its proposal then submitted right after. They screwed up the last proposal but it was more tag flight related.

So its going to be up to the commission to work out who gets the portion of 5k seats between QF and VA. Now considering Virgin has around 25% of the seats today that QF does to Indonesia, it will be almost impossible for the commission to grant QF the whole lot.

VA will certainly ask for PER-DPS going off its failed application last year. Virgin could ask for WSI-DPS, they would probably get that over Jetstar considering share.

I’d say this will be allocated 50/50 between both groups in the end.

 

[elanshin]

When you say Virgin will likely get a portion of the capacity.....what does that mean?

They have applied to IASC for allocation of the available seats according to the expanded bi-lateral with Indonesia. This doesn't mean the IASC will grant them the request.

VA will also likely put in their own proposals and IASC will make a determination.

VA will certainly ask for PER-DPS going off its failed application last year. Virgin could ask for WSI-DPS, they would probably get that over Jetstar considering share.

Personally i think IASC would grant QF the JQ WSI-DPS unless VA demonstrate they're going to start operating from WSI domestically.

 

[Doctore1003]

In your opinion is PER-CGK likely to become a new route for QF?

 

[Saab34]

Personally i think IASC would grant QF the JQ WSI-DPS unless VA demonstrate they're going to start operating from WSI domestically.

It’s an interesting point. The commission didn’t really side with Jetstar in the last application around its argument that it was a LCC and is offering better value, lower fares etc, they made this point quite clear, so not sure they will put the domestic part into it. Virgin screwed itself over by getting lost in how tag flights operate, otherwise they would have got that capacity.

VAs biggest opportunity here is simply lack of share so if they play their cards right they should do ok. They could ask for PER-CGK, and drop it later on, reallocate to DPS if they want also, should the route not work.

 

[PERLHR]

It’s an interesting point. The commission didn’t really side with Jetstar in the last application around its argument that it was a LCC and is offering better value, lower fares etc, they made this point quite clear, so not sure they will put the domestic part into it. Virgin screwed itself over by getting lost in how tag flights operate, otherwise they would have got that capacity.

VAs biggest opportunity here is simply lack of share so if they play their cards right they should do ok. They could ask for PER-CGK, and drop it later on, reallocate to DPS if they want also, should the route not work.

Funnily enough I know a lot of people who really want CGK from Perth and not a few a week by Batik. Would VA really want to compete to Bali from Perth with Batik, Transnusa (who operate about 22 flights a week) Jetstar with I think about at least two daily , Air Asia up to I think 3 or 4 daily? It's almost overkill and I can't see people flying VA as they are also just really on the whole a LCC so price would certainly dictate. It's all quite interesting but perhaps for VA like QF Jakarta would be best.

 

[Saab34]

Would VA really want to compete to Bali from Perth with Batik, Transnusa (who operate about 22 flights a week) Jetstar with I think about at least two daily , Air Asia up to I think 3 or 4 daily?

True, and the last application they applied for double daily PER-DPS. With the then CCO at the time likely having significant oversight over that decision, now running the show, I’d doubt things have changed around PER-DPS ambitions.

I understand they can re position capacity over time to other Indonesia routes also if they don’t get the required success from say PER-DPS.

Jetstar valued 2500 seats at around $150m in revenue so 5000 is a sizeable revenue gain.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

PER-CGK is a great idea.

 

[Daver6]

This would certainly be interesting. Award seat to CGK as a jumping off point to elsewhere on J on QR.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

This would solve my dilemma.

 

[SYD]

PER-CGK is a great idea.

and I suspect it’ll get the nod over more bogan air routes.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

When did VA drop PER-DPS?
They used to have regular flights, they even had business class on the route, before COVID.

 

[elanshin]

Out of curiosity, how big is the Indonesian population over at PER? I know there's quite a few Singaporeans there but not sure about Indonesians.

 

[Harrison_133]

When did VA drop PER-DPS?
They used to have regular flights, they even had business class on the route, before COVID.

They transferred PER-DPS to Tiger in 2016 and didn't return after that little experiment failed.

 

[SYD]

Out of curiosity, how big is the Indonesian population over at PER? I know there's quite a few Singaporeans there but not sure about Indonesians.

Circa 13k according to Google but more importantly, what’s the back and fourth business demand, as well as freight?

 

[jb747]

How many times has this been a new route? I recall doing way back in 767 days.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

They transferred PER-DPS to Tiger in 2016 and didn't return after that little experiment failed.

Ah I just checked and confirmed I flew between PER & DPS on VA in J 7 times in 2015.
Not to holiday in Bali, I used to use it to reposition to DPS to pick up cheap J fares on MH.
Then a status run DPS-KUL-HKT, HKT-KUL-HKG, HKG-KUL-HKT, HKT-KUL-DPS.
With some holiday time in HKT & HKG in there of course.
The VA flights between PER & DPS meant it was a dual purpose status run, helping me retain dual platinum.

The reason for the odd number of flights was that I used it once to pick up EY staff travel from KUL because there wasn't any availability ex PER.