QF revises timeline for international flights following Budget forecasts.
Qantas has announced the adjustment of its planned international flight resumptions (apart from trans-Tasman), with the previously planned 31 October return of operations now revised until 19 December 2021.
The airline said the change followed last night’s Federal Budget which confirmed the Government had revised its anticipated timeline for the completion of Australia’s vaccine rollout until the end of 2021, and for significantly reopening international borders to mid-2022.
“We remain optimistic that additional bubbles will open once Australia’s vaccine rollout is complete to countries who, by then, are in a similar position, but it’s difficult to predict which ones at this stage,” the carrier said in a statement.
Qantas said this planning assumption would 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.
“We will keep reviewing these plans as we move towards December and circumstances evolve,” the statement added.
QF also confirmed it would reach out directly to customers booked for travel between 31 October and 19 December, but added that “recent levels of uncertainty meant international booking levels were relatively low”.
More details in tomorrow’s issue of Travel Daily.