American Airlines Temporarily Launches Los Angeles–Brisbane Flights
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American Airlines will temporarily operate flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Brisbane Airport (BNE) during the peak Southern Hemisphere summer season, stepping in for alliance partner Qantas Airways. The move is part of a broader transpacific capacity adjustment under the carriers’ joint venture agreement.
American Replaces Qantas on Brisbane Route for Peak Season
Between December 5, 2025, and January 30, 2026, American will operate 3x weekly Boeing 787-9 flights between LAX and BNE, covering frequencies normally operated by Qantas. The route spans 7,161 miles and will be flown with the following aircraft configuration:
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30 Business Class seats
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21 Premium Economy seats
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234 Economy seats
Flight schedule (replacing Qantas QF15/16 rotations):
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LAX–BNE (AA-coded): Departs 8:30 PM on Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays, arrives 5:00 AM (+2 days)
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BNE–LAX (AA-coded): Departs 7:25 PM on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, arrives 2:30 PM (same day)
This stopgap service complements American’s daily seasonal Brisbane–Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) route and comes alongside Delta Air Lines’ 3x weekly seasonal LAX–BNE service.
Why American Is Operating the Route
American’s brief Brisbane service is not a long-term expansion, but a temporary capacity substitution to support Qantas, which is redeploying aircraft to new and expanded routes:
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Perth–Auckland (AKL) and Perth–Johannesburg (JNB) are launching in December 2025 using Airbus A330s
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Melbourne–Dallas (MEL–DFW) will increase from 4x weekly to daily
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Sydney–Dallas (SYD–DFW) will shift from a mix of 787s and A380s to daily A380 service
By having American operate the LAX–BNE flights, Qantas frees up aircraft for these new services during the critical southern summer travel period. This is a typical example of fleet balancing between joint venture partners during off-peak and peak seasons in different hemispheres.
A Rare Long-Haul Appearance from LAX for American
American has had a limited long-haul presence from Los Angeles in recent years, especially as the airline has focused its transpacific operations through DFW and strengthened coordination with Qantas out of LAX. This Brisbane route marks a rare direct long-haul service from Los Angeles, albeit temporary.
No new aircraft or long-term commitment to Brisbane from LAX has been announced beyond this short-term substitution, and the route is not expected to continue past January 30, 2026.
Bottom Line
American Airlines will operate a seasonal 3x weekly service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Brisbane (BNE) between December 5, 2025, and January 30, 2026, using a Boeing 787-9. The move allows joint venture partner Qantas to reassign aircraft for new international routes during peak summer travel in Australia. While it’s a new route on paper for American, the service is temporary and strategic, not part of a broader expansion from LAX.
