Cairns Airport: Jetstar and Singapore Airlines give update on international travel routes

As Jetstar revealed the dates it intends to resume two key international Cairns flights, another major airline had less encouraging news for the city.

TWO major airlines have given an update on their plans to resume international flights from Cairns, with one hugely popular holiday destination already in the works.

Jetstar is targeting a Cairns to Bali route from April 1 if travel opens up to the Indonesian tourist mecca and the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirements are lifted in both directions.

The Indonesian island has announced it will reopen to New Zealand, South Korea, China, Japan and the United Arab Emirates from October 14, but left Australia off the list.

Popular Bali beach bars like La Plancha (pictured) in Seminyak could be back on the agenda for Cairns travellers next year.

Its borders have been closed to overseas visitors for more than a year due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

A Jetstar spokeswoman said the airline was also going ahead with plans to restart a Cairns to Tokyo flight from February 1.

“This is based on the assumption that travel to those destinations will be allowed,” she said.

“For example, borders being open by those dates, and travel restrictions being lifted.”

Vaccinated travellers from exemption countries heading to Bali will need to show proof of hotel bookings for a mandatory eight-day quarantine – which will need to be paid for by the visitor.

The Qantas Group’s gradual international travel plan hinges on national cabinet’s phased reopening of international borders and vaccination targets being reached, which are “on track”, according to chief executive Alan Joyce.

“It’s obviously up to government exactly how and when our international borders re-open, but with Australia on track to meet the 80 per cent trigger agreed by national cabinet by the end of the year, we need to plan ahead for what is a complex restart process,” he said.

“We can adjust our plans if the circumstances change, which we’ve already had to do several times during this pandemic.”

Cairns Airport boss Richard Barker said he had been encouraged by the Morrison government’s push to get international borders re-open.

He said the airport was working closely with airline partners and all authorities to open up “in time for Christmas.”

A Jetstar Airbus A320 and Qantas Boeing 737-800 jet aircraft at Cairns Airport. Picture: Brendan Radke.

“Cairns Airport and our airline partners are ready to go reconnecting family and friends, and once again rekindling the love of travel and adventure,” he said.

“Vaccination is key to us being able to do that, and we encourage everyone to come forward and help us get there now in time for Christmas.”

Meanwhile Singapore Airlines has no immediate plans to resume scheduled passenger services to Cairns “with no clarity as to how Australia’s borders will reopen”, according to an airline spokesman.

“However, we will continue to remain nimble and flexible to ensure we can quickly and efficiently deploy capacity to markets where demand warrants,” he said.

Singapore has continued to connect eight cities in Australia with the world through its “Singapore hub”, operating to more than 50 global destinations, bringing expats home and keeping supply lines open.

“This has included a weekly cargo-only service to Cairns to support local producers in the region,” the spokesman said.

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Originally published as Cairns Airport: Jetstar and Singapore Airlines give update on international travel routes