The Group will resume service to most international destinations from late October 2021, while Trans-Tasman flights will ramp up starting in July. Qantas has also introduced new flexibility for international bookings with unlimited flight date changes.
On Thursday (February 25, 2021), Qantas announced that both Qantas and Jetstar will restart regular international passenger service to most destinations from October 31, 2021, a further delay from the previous expected restart date of July 2021. The Group has now coordinated the restart date of international passenger service with the expected rollout and completion of the COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. Although international flying isn’t expected to fully recover until 2024, the airlines will offer reduced capacity and frequencies in line with projected demand. Qantas is currently assessing the CommonPass and IATA Travel Pass smartphone app on international repatriation flights, to help support the resumption of safe international travel.
Qantas plans to resume 22 of 25 pre-pandemic international destinations including Los Angeles, London, Singapore and Johannesburg from October 31, 2021. The carrier won’t initially restart flights to New York, Santiago and Osaka, but remains committed to the destinations. Guests will still be able to travel to these destinations through codeshare or oneworld partner airlines. Jetstar plans on resuming service to all 13 of their international destinations, with frequencies adjusted in line with demand and recovery. Qantas and Jetstar are both planning a significant increase in flights to and from New Zealand starting July 1, 2021 and the Group will respond to ‘travel bubbles’ as they reopen.
Additionally, Qantas has announced additional flexibility for international bookings with an expansion of their ‘Fly Flexible’ policy, which was previously only available for domestic and Trans-Tasman flights. The policy will now apply to international flights booked by at least the end of April 2021 and flight dates can be changed up to 355 days in advance without a change fee, subject to availability and fare difference. The airline has also extended the validity of credit vouchers, which can now be used for domestic or international flights until December 31, 2023.
Source: Qantas