International flights ready for takeoff as Australia opens up

Qantas counts down to the return of international flights on November 1 as the world opens up again.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says international bookings are now outstripping domestic bookings. Picture: Getty Images

Qantas international flights will resume in just over a week, signalling an end to Australia’s pandemic-induced hibernation.

CEO Alan Joyce on Friday ­announced “the best news in ­almost two years” – an accelerated ramp-up of international flying that would see 11,000 employees return to work.

Services to London from Sydney via Darwin will begin on ­November 1, with Mr Joyce revealing international bookings were now outstripping those for domestic flights.

Sydney-Los Angeles will follow a few days later, before Melbourne-London services take off six weeks earlier than planned. Singapore flights are to start on November 23, then a new Sydney-Delhi flight on December 6. The following day, Qantas will be off to Fiji. After that, flights to Vancouver, Honolulu, Tokyo and, tentatively, New Zealand will resume, with Bali a strong contender for pre-Christmas flights.

“Australians were the largest visitors (to Bali) before Covid and it will be phenomenal news for our Jetstar people if we can operate into Bali before Christmas,” Mr Joyce said.

In January, Johannesburg, Bangkok and Phuket will be added to the list, followed in February by Hong Kong, San Francisco and Dallas.

NSW and Victoria have committed to allowing fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families to ­return from overseas without the need to quarantine.

Scott Morrison said that privilege was likely to be extended to others by the end of the year, ­including students, business ­travellers, skilled migrants and tourists, in that order. “I’m confident that because of the way we have prepared for this day, that is very possible and very achievable,” the Prime Minister said.

 

The relaunch of overseas travel will not be without its challenges, with costly Covid tests required in the 72 hours before flying in and out of Australia.

Jennifer Evans, from the ­National Association of Testing Authorities, said travellers should seek out accredited facilities. “Qantas has detailed on its site three labs where travellers are able to get their PCR test prior to ­departure, all of which are accredited,” she said.

Travellers were also advised to check requirements for their destination country, with the rules varying considerably and changing regularly.

The UK requires fully vaccinated arrivals to have a Covid test two days after arrival, booked before travel. The US also expects fully vaccinated arrivals to have a test within three to five days.

Those travelling to Fiji will need to spend the first 48 hours in their resort and take a Covid test.

All Qantas international bookings made before February 28 will be subject to a “fee-free date change” policy for flights before December 31, 2022.

Travel insurance was recommended, however, and Cover-More Asia-Pacific CEO Judith Crompton said extra Covid-19 benefits had been added to their policies. “That includes cover for cancellation if you contract Covid-19 and are placed into quarantine and you cannot start your trip,” she said. “It also covers if you contract Covid-19 while on your trip and are hospitalised or placed into quarantine.”

Originally published as International flights ready for takeoff as Australia opens up