Flights to Bali, Fiji, LA: Qantas, Jetstar update international schedule

The airlines have flicked the switch to full throttle with the possibility services to Bali could be back by Christmas.

Qantas aircraft at Sydney Airport in March 2020. More than 20-months later the airline is preparing to return to its full capacity. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Qantas and Jetstar have flicked the switch to full throttle on their international flight schedule with the possibility services to Bali could be back in operation by Christmas.

Flanked by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in Sydney, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce announced all Australian-based employees would return to work by the end of the year as flying ramped up.

The massive step was in response to the November 1 reopening of NSW to overseas Australian citizens and permanent residents without the need to quarantine.

Mr Joyce said the airline had recorded more international flight sales than domestic since the NSW announcement, and services would be brought forward in response.

Sydney to London and Los Angeles would be the first services out of the blocks from November 1 using Boeing 787s, with Sydney to Singapore to follow on November 23, operated by A330s.

On December 6 a new route for Qantas would commence, Sydney-Delhi, with three flights a week to start with using A330s, building to daily services by the end of the year.

The flights were planned to continue until March 2022 but could go beyond that in response to demand. Outbound flights would operate via Darwin while inbound services would fly non-stop.

December 7 will see the return of Sydney-Nadi (Fiji) flights, brought forward from December 19. Four return flights a week will operate initially using 737s with Jetstar flights recommencing on December 17.

From December 18, Qantas flights to Vancouver, Tokyo, Honolulu and New Zealand are scheduled to restart as planned but other destinations would come back online sooner.

These include Sydney-Johannesburg from January 5, using 787s three times a week; Sydney-Phuket from January 12 on 787s three times a week; and Sydney-Bangkok from January 14 with five flights a week operated by A330s.

Discussions were underway with the Indonesian government about welcoming fully vaccinated Australians back to Bali with reduced or no quarantine requirements.

Those services were expected to return in April but could now start months earlier.

The massive ramp up would see two A380s back in the skies by April 2022 flying Sydney to Los Angeles, with another three superjumbos to be reactivated by July.

One A380 could be back in Australia from the California desert by the end of the year, to help with crew training.

Three brand new 787-9 in storage with Boeing since the pandemic struck would also be joining the Qantas fleet sooner than expected, and Jetstar will bring its five remaining 787-8s out of storage in Alice Springs over coming months.

Capacity on domestic routes was to be accelerated as borders reopened. 18 services a day between Melbourne and Sydney were scheduled initially, rising to 37 a day by Christmas.

All travellers on Qantas international flights aged 12 years and over would need to be fully vaccinated to board, and would also need to produce proof of a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure.

Customers were advise to check on government requirements for the destination they were travelling to, with the rules varying considerably.

Anyone going to Fiji would have to stay in their resort for the first 48-hours and return a negative Covid test before venturing out.

Forms for travel to the US and UK were available via a link on the Qantas booking site, and Qantas encouraged passengers to download the International Air Transport Association travel pass, when it was ready later next month.

Mr Joyce said he was hopeful that as vaccination in other states and territories increased Qantas could restart more international flights.

“In the meantime, Sydney is our gateway to the rest of the world,” he said.

“While these flights will initially be for Australians and their families, we expect tourists from Singapore, South Africa and India to take advantage of these flights once borders reopen to international visitors, which is great news for the industry.”

He said the flights between Sydney and Delhi had been on the Qantas radar for some time.

“We think there will be strong demand from family and friends wanting to reconnect once borders open,” said Mr Joyce.