Qantas to launch scenic flights with trip to Uluru

Buoyed by the success of its ‘flight to nowhere’, Qantas is rolling out a series of ‘flights to somewhere’ showcasing Australia.

Uluru provides a majestic back drop to the Field of Light installation by artist Bruce Munro.

Buoyed by the success of its seven-hour scenic “flight to nowhere” which sold out in 10 minutes, Qantas has announced a series of scenic “flights to somewhere”.

Designed to highlight key Australian holiday destinations as state borders reopen, the first flight will carry 110 passengers on a Boeing 737 from Sydney to Uluru for an overnight stay on December 5.

Details of other scenic flights are being kept under wraps but Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said they were intended to “get people thinking about where they might holiday”.

“Across Qantas and Jetstar, we’re currently operating at just under 30 per cent of our pre-COVID domestic capacity and if borders continue to be relaxed, we’re hoping that will reach about 50 per cent by Christmas,” Mr Joyce said.

“That will be great news for a lot of people in the travel and tourism industry as well.”

He said now more borders were opening, Qantas was partnering with tourism operators to offer “special flights to special destinations”.

“Even though seats are limited, we think the awareness generated by these flights is a great way to get more people thinking about where they might holiday as we head towards summer,” said Mr Joyce.

“As well as a handful of these special scenic flight experiences, we’re ready to ramp up our regular services with very competitive fares to help reunite families and friends by the end of the year.”

Passengers would pay $3999 a person for business class on the flight to Uluru, and $2499 for economy with the fare inclusive of twin-share accommodation, meals and activities.

Qantas was partnering with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia for the package, and CEO Matt Cameron-Smith welcomed the opportunity.

“This has been a tough year for tourism and it’s great to be able to give Australians an opportunity to get back on a flight and travel to one of our country’s most iconic destinations,” Mr Cameron-Smith said.

At the Qantas AGM last Friday, Mr Joyce revealed the airline had seen earnings decline by another $100m in the first quarter of the 2021 financial year, with further losses expected in the second quarter.

However he expected to return to a positive cash flow in the New Year, and would be one of the few airlines worldwide to do so.

Up to 18,000 Qantas and Jetstar workers remain stood down, while the company goes about removing 6000 roles, and outsourcing another 2400 jobs.

Those employees remaining with the airlines are likely to come under pressure to accept reduced pay and conditions in line with their Virgin Australia counterparts.

Mr Joyce told the AGM he had made it clear to unions, any concessions granted to Virgin would have to be matched at Qantas in order to remain competitive.