Public and business events were cited as a reason for introducing the service, with the Consumer Electronics Show specifically namedropped as well as the Australian NRL games in Las Vegas that kick off the season.
Direct Sydney-Las Vegas flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, between December 29, 2026, and March 12, 2027, on Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
“Australians’ appetite for international travel continues to be incredibly strong,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.
“Rome and Sapporo have shown us there’s real demand for seasonal services to destinations people want to visit at certain times of year, and we’re continuing to expand those direct connections around the world.
“Our historic fleet renewal is giving us the flexibility to deploy aircraft where we see demand, opening up route possibilities that simply weren’t there before.
“Las Vegas becomes our 101st destination and is a great example of how we’re using that capability.
“This growth also creates real opportunities for our people, particularly our pilots and cabin crew, as we expand where we fly.”
While Qantas is introducing a new US route, the airline’s half-year results announcement today also revealed it is ‘adjusting some US schedules’ and reducing capacity on its services between Melbourne and Los Angeles due to a fall in travel from Australia to the US that has not been entirely offset by the rise in travellers going the other way.
The airline’s after-tax profits were $925 million for the first half of the financial year, just $2 million higher than the same period last year, while its underlying profit before tax rose by $71 million to $1.46 billion.
While Qantas reported solid travel demand for both domestic and international routes, underlying earnings before tax were down six per cent for its international arm – when Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Japan’s performances were excluded. Jetstar Asia was closed down last year and Qantas has announced its intention to divest its one-third share in Jetstar Japan.
Qantas attributed the fall in profits to cost escalation, including for engineering, wages and training for new aircraft.
Qantas reported that it had received several new aircraft during the first half of the financial year, as it moves through its largest ever fleet renewal program.
“We’re already seeing the benefits from the next generation aircraft that are flying,” said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson.
“These new aircraft are not only improving the experience for our customers and opening up new opportunities for our people, they’re also helping drive our financial performance.
“Around 60 per cent of Jetstar’s increase in profitability in the half was driven by its new aircraft, through a combination of growth, new network opportunities and the redeployment of existing aircraft onto other routes.
“This gives us confidence in the benefits that will flow once Qantas’ new aircraft reach scale. We’ve already started to see an acceleration in deliveries for Qantas, with six new aircraft arriving in the half and a further 30 arriving over the next 18 months.
“Some of these new aircraft will replace older aircraft, while some will support growth by opening up new routes, like the ultra long range A350s, which will operate Project Sunrise flights.”
