Malaysia included in Qantas' new Asian strategy

Qantas, which recently sealed an alliance with Emirates, plans to expand its network within Asia, working with Malaysia Airlines and other partners.

Qantas on Monday outlined its new four-phase strategy for the Asian market with new destinations being considered including Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda.

Qantas also plans to provide more frequent flights to Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as, reschedule the departure time of those flights and increase capacity on those routes.

The airline said it hoped to expand its network within Asia by working with local partners such as Malaysia Airlines, Japan Airlines, China Eastern, Jet Airways and Cathay Pacific.

Qantas said the improvements to its Asian services would begin on March 31 and be rolled out in four phases.

Qantas International Chief Executive Simon Hickey said the changes meant Qantas' services to Asia were no longer tied to onward links to Europe.

"The number of dedicated seats on Qantas services to Hong Kong and Singapore is increasing significantly because capacity previously set aside for customers going to Europe via these hubs can be freed up.

"The joint Qantas-Emirates network into Asia gives our customers a fresh set of options, including double daily services to Singapore from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane," Hickey said in a statement.

From March 31, Qantas will increase capacity on flights to Hong Kong and Singapore by between 10 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.

More flights would also be available on the Qantas-Emirates network.

Qantas will also schedule earlier arrival times into Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, with flights brought forward by up to three hours to increase the number of onward connections.

Customers will also be able to fly to Kuala Lumpur on the combined Qantas-Emirates network.

However, Qantas will reduce services between Perth and Singapore to one a day.

It will also cancel its Adelaide-Singapore and Perth-Hong Kong services.

However, flights between Brisbane and Hong Kong will rise to seven a week from four, and daily services between Sydney and Singapore will start in June.

Qantas has also brought forward the end date for its loss-making Frankfurt services by six months to April 15.