More Flights Makes Flying From Adelaide Airport Easier

By Henry Cole.

Flying from Adelaide Airport (ADL) is getting easier as a steady stream of international airlines start or restart services from the South Australian capital.

The airport, Australia’s fifth busiest based on passenger traffic, handled 8,413,777 passengers in the 12 months to June 30, 2025. More recently, in the three months to September 30, over 2.2 passengers passed through Adelaide Airport – up 5.5% on the comparable 2024 quarter.

The growth trajectory is expected to continue as more airlines commence or recommence flights to Adelaide

This week, Cathay Pacific returned after a five-year absence. The airline is back for the summer, operating three-times weekly A350-500 flights to and from Hong Kong (HKG) through to the end of March.

Cathay's return marks the completion of the re-establishment of all international routes flying into Adelaide before the Covid-19 outbreak

China Eastern's Adelaide flights an "extraordinary opportunity"

Last week, the South Australian Government announced a deal with China Eastern Airlines that will see that carrier operate a seasonal service between Shanghai (PVG) and Adelaide from mid-2026. Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox called it “an extraordinary opportunity to open up business and tourism opportunities between China and South Australia.”

The China Eastern flights complement an existing China Southern Airlines seasonal service between Adelaide and Guangzhou (CAN).

International airlines flying from Adelaide Airport include Fiji Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Jetstar, Air New Zealand, and Qantas.

They’ll shortly be joined by United Airlines, who are starting a thrice-weekly B787-9 seasonal service to San Francisco (SFO) on December 13.

“Adelaide will now be connected directly to an entirely new continent,” said Cox. “This is a core connection in our aviation network vision that has been decades in the making."

Meanwhile, Qantas has resumed international flights from Adelaide after a decade plus absence. The airline is operating a four-times weekly B737-800 seasonal service to Auckland (AKL) through to May 3. Qantas is competing with Air New Zealand on the route. The kiwi carrier has also recently upped its trans-Tasman game, starting twice-weekly seasonal flights between Adelaide and Christchurch (CHC) in later October.

One small setback for Adelaide Airport is a decision by Malaysia Airlines not to send its new A330-900 aircraft to Adelaide. In September, the airport said Malaysia Airlines would ramp up its existing five-weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to daily services in early February 2026 and swap out the A330-300s operating on the route for the far superior A330-900s. While the frequency increase remains in place, the airline has dropped plans to put the -900 on the route in February.

Improved Adelaide Airport connectivity via global hubs

Adelaide acts as a handy source of feeder traffic for international airlines. Emirates, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, United, Cathay Pacific, and United fly between Adelaide and their hubs, allowing one-stop access to major cities worldwide.

The local airlines are also adopting the same strategy. Fiji Airways times flights in and out of Nadi (NAN) to allow for easy connections between Australia and North America. Air New Zealand does likewise at Auckland.

Qantas knows how many non-Sydney based passengers dislike the domestic-international transfer process at Sydney Airport (SYD) and is selling its new Adelaide – Auckland service as a workaround.

“South Australians can now reach New York in around 21 hours and with just one stop via Auckland on our QF3 service, while the new route also opens up greater opportunities for inbound connections throughout South Australia and beyond through our domestic network"  said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace recently.

Aero South Pacific understands that Adelaide Airport and the South Australian Government recently held talks with Japan Airlines and Air India regarding those carriers starting flights to Adelaide - although neither airline has yet committed to doing so.

However, Adelaide Airport is confident its growth will continue. It has commenced a AUD600 million (USD392 million) ‘Project Flight’ infrastructure program. The program will see the check-in zone expanded, up to nine new aircraft parking bays added (including five new gates with aero bridges), and a new international gate lounge.

The airport says the works will allow it to keep pace with the growth in demand for international travel.

Photo: Adelaide Airport

Map: GreatCircleMap.com