Malaysia Airlines to Code-Share on Qantas Trans-Tasman Flights

Qantas has asked Australia’s International Air Services Commission for approval to put Malaysia Airlines’ MH flight code on selected Qantas-operated flights between Australia and New Zealand.

The September 23, 2025, request follows a recent agreement between Qantas and Malaysia Airlines to upgrade their relationship, which has stagnated in recent years despite both airlines being members of the oneworld alliance.

The airlines now want to place the MH code on Qantas-operated flights on the following trans-Tasman city pairs.

• Brisbane (BNE) – Christchurch (CHC).
• Brisbane – Wellington (WLG).
• Melbourne (MEL) – Christchurch.
• Melbourne – Auckland (AKL).
• Sydney – Auckland.
• Sydney – Christchurch.
• Sydney – Queenstown (ZQN).
• Sydney – Wellington.

“Qantas, as the operating carrier, intends to provide Malaysia Airlines with access to available inventory on a free sale basis,” the application reads. “The code-share arrangements will provide Malaysia Airlines’ customers the ability to connect over Australia to New Zealand with an expanded network of travel options and a seamless travel experience.”

Notably, the application does not include city pairs such and Brisbane – Wellington, Melbourne – Wellington, Adelaide – Auckland, Brisbane – Auckland, Brisbane – Queenstown, and Melbourne – Queenstown.

The application is part of a notable up-step in co-operation between the two carriers. Earlier this month, the airline's confirmed that Malaysia Airlines would place its MH code on multiple Qantas-operated domestic routes across Australia, including:

In turn, Qantas would place its QF code on Malaysia Airlines-operated flights between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, as well as to Singapore (SIN) and Malaysian destinations including Kota Kinabalu (BKI), Kuching (KCH), Langkawi (LGK), and Penang (PEN).

Beyond the minimum co-operation mandates laid down by the oneworld alliance, neither airline has worked closely with the other in recent years.

Earlier this month, group managing director of Malaysia Aviation Group, Izham Ismail, said the reinvigorated Qantas partnership marked “an important step forward as we strengthen Malaysia Airlines’ presence in Australia, a key market in our long-term strategy.”

Cam Wallace, CEO Qantas International, said the partnership reflected his airline’s “commitment to offering more choice and convenience through an expanding network of partner airlines.”

Qantas will begin placing its QF code on the selected Malaysia Airlines-operated flights on October 26, 2026. Malaysia Airlines will put its MH code on the Qantas domestic flights on the same date. The two airlines want to put the MH code on the Qantas-operated trans-Tasman flights from November 1, “or as soon as all necessary approvals have been received.”

Meanwhile, Qantas has confirmed several changes to its international network next year, including swapping out the wet-leased Finnair A330-300 for one of its own A330-200/300s on the Sydney – Bangkok (BKK) route from March 29, 2026. Qantas will redeploy the Finnair aircraft onto the Sydney – Honolulu (HNL) route, which frees up a B787-9 currently operating that route.

Other changes across the Qantas international network next year include increasing its Sydney – Auckland – New York (JFK) service from thrice-weekly to daily over the 2026 Southern Hemisphere winter and trimming the Sydney – Santiago (SCL) flights from six per week to four from May 5, 2026.

Other service reductions include flights on the Melbourne – Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) city pair reducing from four to three per week from May 7, 2026.

You can read the International Air Services Commission application here.

Photo: Qantas.