Qantas Group shifts domestic plans as it eyes border reopenings

Australia’s Qantas Group has made adjustments to its schedule as it eyes the opening up of state borders, and remains optimistic about an 18 December restart for international travel. The group, comprised of mainline operator Qantas and low-cost unit Jetstar Airways, is basing its assumptions on continued vaccination drives in Australia, as well as the coronavirus pandemic internationally. Based on the reopening plan of the Australian state of Victoria, the group will bring forward flights between there and New South Wales to 5 November, compared with 1 December previously. The carrier will also be “significantly increasing” regional flying within New South Wales from 25 October, aiming for 40% of pre-pandemic levels. On the other hand, the reopening of domestic flights to Western Australia from Victoria and New South Wales will be pushed back two months to 1 February 2022. The carrier now operates five return flights weekly between Perth and both Sydney and Melbourne for those with travel permits. As for the 18 December international opening, this is predicated on the country reaching the 80% threshold with Covid-19 vaccinations. In addition, Qantas is looking at operating its direct Boeing 787-9 service to London from Darwin, not Perth. Qantas CE Alan Joyce says that Western Australia is not considering an international opening until “sometime next year”, precluding the re-launch of the London-Perth service.<br/>