Qantas Puts December On Sale For COVID-safe Destinations - And Sparks Buying Flurry

Qantas has announced it plans to fly to “COVID-safe destinations” like Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, the US, Japan, the United Kingdom and Fiji from late December as vaccination rates improve.

The move is likely to spark a flurry of buying activity as tickets on its site are still considered good value.

In words that would easily be echoed by cruise ship operators, CEO Alan Joyce said trading conditions under lockdown and border closures were “diabolical” and the airline had made a $1.7 billion statutory after-tax loss for the 2021 financial year.

“This loss shows the impact that a full year of closed international borders and more than 330 days of domestic travel restrictions had on the national carrier” he said. “By the end of this calendar year, it’s likely COVID will cost us more than $20 billion in revenue. The trading conditions have frankly been diabolical”.

Qantas is optimistic that Australia will hit its 70 per cent vaccination target in November, and that would trigger a return to unrestricted domestic travel.

The airline also feels international travel will gradually resume from December after 80 per cent of the eligible population is vaccinated.

The airline predicted flights to Hong Kong will resume in February, but those nations with low vaccinations rates won’t be considered until April. That includes Bali, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City and Johannesburg.

“It’s obviously up to government exactly how and when our international borders re-open, but with Australia on track to meet the 80 per cent trigger agreed by National Cabinet by the end of the year, we need to plan ahead for what is a complex restart process,” Mr Joyce said.

Qantas and Jetstar were flying close to their pre-pandemic domestic capacity in May when state borders were open, but the resumed lockdown in Victoria and prolonged lockdown in NSW has forced staff stand-downs.

Cruise lines selling international itineraries are desperate for information about flights and prices, so they can sell their journeys with assurance. So the news will be welcomed by most lines.