Qantas expects to reach 115% of pre-COVID domestic capacity levels by April

Qantas Airways expects to reach more than 115% of pre-COVID domestic capacity levels by April as Australian state borders open, Chief Executive Alan Joyce said on Tuesday. “Domestically we are seeing huge demand when borders open,” he said at a CAPA Centre for aviation event. “We have seen a surge in 24 hours in the Queensland market alone.” Queensland on Monday brought forward the opening of its domestic borders to Dec. 13, from a previous estimate of Dec. 17. Low-cost offshoot Jetstar should reach 120% of pre-COVID domestic capacity by April, while the premium Qantas brand should reach 115%, Joyce said. He said the airline remained on track to decide by the end of the year on a preferred supplier for more than 100 planes to replace its ageing domestic fleet. In the international market, it will take far longer to recover to pre-COVID levels, though Qantas will bring back some of its A380 super-jumbo planes for flights from Sydney to London and New York from next July.<br/>