American Airlines Announces Australian Expansion

American Airlines is deepening its connection towards Australia and its relationship with its flag-carrier Qantas.

The U.S. airline has confirmed that it’ll be expanding its presence in the country from December 5, 2025, through the end of January 2026 with the launch of thrice-weekly seasonal flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Brisbane.

American Airlines confirms that this service towards Brisbane will go on sale to its customers on May 12. This represents a further commitment to the country that plays a pivotal role in its network.

In return, its fellow oneworld member, Qantas, will increase operations between Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Melbourne (MEL) from December 3, 2025, through the end of January 2026 with daily flights to be offered.

Moreover, capacity upgrades will occur during the peak festive and holiday period, with the Airbus A380 deployed between Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Sydney (SYD).

Qantas can begin deploying the A380 on services such as these thanks to the reactivation of the remaining parked units for the world’s largest passenger plane, which were removed from the fleet during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

American Airlines also confirmed that in addition to its newly announced Los Angeles to Brisbane flight, the northern winter schedule beginning on October 26, 2025, will see the return of Dallas to Brisbane.

American Airlines’ Partnership With Qantas

American Airlines says that its partnership with Qantas is entering its fourth consecutive year, allowing for the persistent expansion of connectivity between the United States and Australia, as well as with New Zealand and the South Pacific.

These types of relationships are important when the Oceania market remains one of the more hotly contested, with United Airlines having also deepened its commitment to Australia in recent years.

As a result, while demand hasn’t grown as quickly for numerous factors and forward bookings could be higher, there remains a desire for these carriers to continue working together to ensure their long-term success between the two countries and beyond.

American Airlines and Qantas also use similar equipment for these services, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner being a present feature, especially from Brisbane, located in the state of Queensland.

All in all, the pair allows for service to key North American gateways such as Dallas Fort Worth, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and San Francisco, to name a few. There are also more than 200 destinations throughout North America and beyond.