The freighter subsidiary of Qantas plans to operate an Airbus A330-200 cargo jet (pictured) between Sydney, Australia, and Shanghai, China. (Photo: Qantas Freight)
Qantas Freight has strengthened its international cargo network with the launch of direct A330 freighter services from Sydney to Shanghai, marking the first time the airline will operate nonstop freight capacity into China using its own aircraft. The move comes as demand for time-sensitive, high-value shipments continues to rise across the Asia-Pacific corridor.
Beginning this week, Qantas Freight will operate twice-weekly services using its Airbus A330-200 converted freighter—one of two widebody freighters in its growing fleet. The Sydney-Shanghai route responds directly to sustained demand for reliable, dedicated cargo capacity between Australia and China, the region’s busiest airfreight market.
“Global freight demand to and from Asia continues to grow, and we’re launching this additional capacity to support our customers’ fast-moving critical cargo and e-commerce shipments from Bangkok and Shanghai,” said Igor Kwiatkowski, Executive Manager, Qantas Freight.
Direct Access to China’s Cargo Capital
Previously, freight capacity between Sydney and Shanghai was operated under lease via two Boeing 747-400Fs operated by Atlas Air, with onward connection from Shanghai to Chicago. The new Qantas-operated route provides a more streamlined option for Australian exporters, reducing transhipment complexities and offering enhanced schedule reliability.
The Shanghai flights are timed to maximize cargo connectivity from across Australia, enabling exporters to funnel shipments into Sydney before transiting on the dedicated freighter service.
“The new Shanghai services mean Qantas Freight now offers more direct freighter connectivity between Australia and China than ever before,” Kwiatkowski added. “This expansion improves flexibility and transhipment options for customers shipping to major U.S. destinations via our Asian gateways.”
Strengthening the Asia-U.S. Corridor via Bangkok
In tandem with the Shanghai launch, Qantas Freight has also enhanced its Asia–U.S. freighter operations, adding a second weekly flight routing through Bangkok. The new service (Sydney–Bangkok–Shanghai–New York JFK via Anchorage, with returns through Los Angeles, Honolulu and Melbourne) is also operated by Atlas Air on behalf of Qantas Freight. This route provides additional uplift capacity for shippers originating in Thailand, an increasingly vital logistics hub for Southeast Asia.
The airline’s growing Asia–North America routing options now offer extended service across key U.S. destinations, including Dallas, Chicago, and New York, strengthening Qantas Freight’s role in end-to-end cargo solutions across the transpacific.
Fleet and Digital Expansion Aligned with Demand
Qantas Freight currently operates a fleet of 10 dedicated freighters, comprising:
- 6 Airbus A321 converted narrowbodies
- 2 Airbus A330-200 converted widebodies
- 2 Boeing 747-400Fs operated by Atlas Air
Five aircraft are dedicated to international routes, with A330 freighters currently flying between Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Hong Kong. The recent expansion underscores Qantas Freight’s strategic investment in long-range capacity, tailored for e-commerce, pharmaceutical, and express freight segments.
In addition to network growth, Qantas Freight has made significant upgrades to its digital infrastructure, including:
- Enhanced online booking tools with faster confirmations and specialized shipment features
- Real-time truck booking options for the U.S. and U.K. markets
- Extended presence on leading digital air cargo platforms, including CargoAi, cargo.one, and WebCargo by Freightos, enabling global forwarders to seamlessly access capacity on Qantas and Jetstar flights
Positioning for the Future
As Australia’s largest dedicated cargo airline, Qantas Freight is positioning itself to play a central role in Asia-Pacific trade flows, particularly as demand intensifies for direct connectivity, agile routing, and digital integration.
With Shanghai now directly linked by Qantas metal and expanded service via Bangkok to North America, the carrier’s growing freighter footprint reflects broader efforts to diversify Australia’s global logistics partnerships while supporting exporters with the infrastructure needed to stay competitive in a fast-moving global market.
