Down under flights delayed

Australian flag carrier Qantas has pushed back its planned international flights to late December 2021. The airline and its subsidiary Jetstar had intended to resume flights to “most international destinations” from the end of October, which already represented a four-month delay to previous announced plans.

The airline said that the decision is a result of the Federal Government’s revised timelines for the completion of Australia’s vaccine rollout, and the significant reopening of the country’s international borders.

“We remain optimistic that additional bubbles will open once Australia’s vaccine rollout is complete to countries which, by then, are in a similar position, but it’s difficult to predict which ones at this stage,” a spokesperson for the carrier said.

“This planning assumption will allow the Qantas Group – and Australia – to be ready to take advantage of pockets of tourism and trade opportunity as they emerge in a post-Covid world.”

The airline says it plans to review its options as circumstances evolve. In November last year Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said that Covid-19 vaccinations would be “a necessity” for international flights. 

See also BTN 10 May No plan – Australia ducks for cover on Covid, 

www.qantas.com

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