Qantas to Start Flights to Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands

Qantas has won a five-year Australian Government contract to operate subsidised passenger flights to Christmas Island (XCH) and Cocos Keeling Islands (CCK).

“The new flights will provide essential connections for the more than 2,500 residents across both territories, supporting local communities, government operations, tourism and freight,” reads an August 15, 2025, Qantas statement.

Starting November 3, the flights will operate twice weekly from Perth (PER) using A319-100 and A320-200 aircraft in an all-economy configuration. It will be the first time Qantas has flown to either destination.

Qantas A320 and A319 aircraft are operated by wholly-owned subsidiary Network Aviation under the QantasLink brand.

In April, the Australian Government called for expressions of interest to operate the passenger flights to Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands, agreeing to pay the difference between the cost of running the services and the revenues generated from them.

It is the second Australian Government subsidised route picked up by the Qantas in recent times. The airline started flying between Brisbane (BNE) and Koror (ROR) last December, having bested the incumbent, Nauru Airlines, in a competitive tendering process.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) has operated the flights to the remote Indian Ocean territories for approximately 15 years. Like the future Qantas services, VARA used an A320-200. However, VARA will soon retire its A320 fleet.

Virgin Australia has not commented on its exit from the routes. However, island residents have long expressed disquiet about the cost of air fares and the reliability of services. The remoteness of the two islands (Christmas Island is 2,600 kilometres from Perth and the Cocos Keeling Islands are around 2,750 kilometres distant) is a significant contributor to the cost of the services. The distance requires the Virgin Australia flights to stop at Learmonth (LEA) for refuelling. Qantas expects to do the same - at least in the short term.

Initially, Qantas will operate a Perth – Learmonth – Christmas Island – Cocos Keeling Islands – Perth rotation every Monday. The second weekly flight, on a Friday, will operate Perth – Learmonth, Cocos Keeling Islands – Christmas Island – Perth.

But, Aero South Pacific understands Qantas plans to drop the refuelling stop in Learmonth in mid-2026.

Qantas will also begin operating a fortnightly freighter flight to both islands, but adds that they are “still working through the details.”

Toll Aviation is the current freight operator to the islands. The company also manages and operates the airports there on behalf of the Australian Government.

Passengers booked on Virgin Australia flights to Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands after November 3 will be moved across to the Qantas flights.

Photo: Bahnfrend via Wikimedia Commons.