Welcome to this week’s Orbit Travel Brief.
From evolving travel advisories to key airline and airport updates, here’s a snapshot of what’s happening across the travel landscape and what to be aware of in the week ahead.
If you have any questions, our team is here to help.
Australian embassies and consulates in Israel and the UAE remain closed, with others in the region operating reduced or variable hours due to ongoing security concerns. Opening hours may change at short notice.
For emergency consular assistance:
+61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas)
1300 555 135 (within Australia)
For the latest updates, refer to Smartraveller: Middle East Conflict
You can also visit the Orbit Travel Hub, for a central source of airline alerts, official advisories and guidance.
Qatar Airways has released an updated schedule, increasing frequencies to more than 90 destinations as services to and from Doha continue to gradually ramp up. All flights are operating via approved flight corridors in coordination with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.
Emirates continues to operate a reduced schedule following the partial reopening of regional airspace.
Qantas has made temporary changes to its international network, redeploying aircraft to increase capacity between Australia and Europe.
Changes will be progressively introduced from 20 April to 26 July 2026.
• Perth–Rome increases from up to four weekly flights to daily services in June and July
• Paris services increase from three to up to five weekly flights, operating Sydney–Singapore–Paris
• Perth–Singapore increases to 10 weekly services (21 May–26 July), supporting connections to Paris
• Perth–London continues daily via Singapore, with the return leg operating non-stop
To support these changes, some services have been adjusted:
• Brisbane–Los Angeles and select Brisbane–Auckland services temporarily paused or reduced during this period
• Premium Economy temporarily unavailable on Brisbane–Los Angeles (18 May–26 July) and select Brisbane–Auckland services, with impacted travellers reaccommodated via Sydney
Travellers may also see changes to flight numbers, aircraft types and operating days. Impacted customers are being contacted directly.
Singapore Airlines has expanded its London Gatwick operations to 14 weekly flights from March 2026, nearly doubling previous capacity.
This provides greater flexibility across departure times and strengthens connectivity into Southeast Asia, including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. The expansion complements existing Heathrow and Manchester services, reinforcing the airline’s UK network.
Air New Zealand is rolling out next-generation self-service kiosks, reducing check-in times to as little as 37 seconds.
With integrated passport scanning and intuitive design, travellers can check in, print boarding passes and tag bags quickly and efficiently, supporting faster, more seamless airport experiences.
Singapore Airlines will commence daily non-stop flights between Singapore and Western Sydney International Airport from 23 November 2026, becoming the first international carrier to operate from the new airport.
Early morning arrivals into Singapore are designed to optimise onward connections to more than 130 global destinations. The new service increases capacity across Sydney and provides greater flexibility, particularly for Western Sydney travellers.
A new global ranking highlights leading terminals setting the benchmark for premium lounge experiences, including Tokyo Haneda, Doha Hamad International and Singapore Changi.
Standout hubs:
• Tokyo Haneda – service, efficiency and premium experience
• Doha Hamad International – large-scale, design-led lounges with high-end dining and wellness
• Singapore Changi – seamless integration of comfort, luxury and transit experience
Key insight: lounges are evolving into full travel environments, with comfort, productivity and wellbeing increasingly influencing airline and route choice.
Melbourne Airport will introduce 24 new electric vehicle charging bays, including high-speed chargers, accessible spaces and facilities for larger vehicles, supporting the transition to lower-emission ground transport.
If you would like support with upcoming travel, or to understand how these updates may impact your plans, our team is here to help.
1800 067 819 | cl************@*********el.au
