Qantas will trial a chauffeured transfer service between Sydney Airport terminals for selected First Class passengers, using Mercedes-Maybach vehicles to move customers between international and domestic flights.

The service will operate from September to November 2026 for invited passengers travelling on a Qantas First fare and connecting between Terminal 1 International and Terminal 3 Domestic.

Qantas says the trial is intended to reduce the time First passengers spend moving between terminals and follows customer research indicating premium travellers place a high value on faster, simpler connections and more time in lounges.

Black Mercedes‑Benz EQS SUV in the foreground on a tarmac with a red and white airplane tail visible in the background.
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Under the arrangement, a Qantas host will meet eligible passengers on arrival and escort them through the airport to a waiting Mercedes-Maybach. The transfer will then take place airside rather than requiring passengers to make their own way between terminals.

The trial is being run in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific and Sydney Airport and is described by Qantas as the first chauffeured terminal-to-terminal transit service of its kind in Australia.

Qantas Executive Manager Product and Service Sarah Udy said the airline wanted to make international-to-domestic connections easier for First passengers, particularly after long-haul flights.

The service will sit alongside other First Class benefits including priority check-in, priority security, priority boarding and access to Qantas First lounges.

Open SUV door showing white leather interior with quilted seats and a view of the airport tarmac and a red airplane tail outside the window16:9 orientation (informative)
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Sydney Airport General Manager Passenger Experience Leanne Geraghty said the initiative forms part of the airport’s broader effort to make passenger transfers more efficient, particularly for long-haul travellers connecting onto domestic services.

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific CEO Homero Becerra said the partnership would use Mercedes-Maybach vehicles as part of the ground transfer experience.

Qantas has also recently updated other parts of its First Class offering, including dining, Aesop amenity kits, Bollinger champagne and redesigned pyjamas for passengers travelling in the A380 First cabin.

Qantas currently offers First Class on selected Airbus A380 services to destinations including Singapore, London, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and Dallas.

The airline says customer feedback collected during the September-November trial will help determine how the transfer service develops beyond the initial period.