Qantas Perth-Johannesburg will get limited run, Jakarta axed

The highly anticipated Qantas service direct from Perth to Johannesburg will once again begin to take off on 1 November despite earlier biosecurity disputes. However, it will be suspended indefinitely in March 2023. The service, as well as the new direct flight from Perth to Jakarta that was similarly due to launch on 30 November, were both “temporarily paused” earlier this month as the airline looked to solve biosecurity and customs conditions with government departments. Both flights were announced in a joint press conference held by WA Premier Mark McGowen and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, a pair who have previously shared their differences over travel restrictions. Now, the Johannesburg service will run for a limited time, whilst the Jakarta flight will be scrapped altogether. The two flights were to be introduced as part of Western Australia’s $185m ‘Reconnect WA’ package that hoped to turn Perth airport into a hub for international travel. During the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns, WA was known for having some of the strictest border restrictions in the country, with the new package hoping to restore Perth’s international tourism. Whilst the state government’s website says that “There are no longer any restrictions on travel to WA…”, the state still maintains strict biosecurity legislation. The issue with the new services is that Terminal 3 of Perth airport lacks the infrastructure to meet the biosecurity screening standards for higher-risk destinations such as South Africa."<br/>