Qantas employee stand-down to extend until at least 30 June.
Qantas has just released a detailed market update, extending its international flight cancellations, previously scheduled to resume next month, through until the end of July.
Domestic and trans-Tasman flight cancellations will also now be in place until the end of June, although the carrier says it has the ability to add in some capacity if restrictions ease in the coming weeks.
Qantas said as a result of the COVID-19 impact on travel, the current stand-down of employees will now be extended until at least the end of June.
“The initial easing of government restrictions suggests some domestic travel may start to return before the end of July – though initial demand levels are hard to predict,” the airline said, adding that it has the ability to lift capacity with a minimum lead time of about one week.
Qantas and Jetstar customers with bookings impacted by the cancellations for June and July will be contacted directly and offered alternatives. Travel credit conditions are also being modified, with customers able to split credits across multiple future bookings.
CEO Alan Joyce said Australia had “done an amazing job of flattening the curve, and we’re optimistic that domestic travel will start returning earlier than first thought, but we clearly won’t be back to pre-coronavirus levels anytime soon. With the possible exception of New Zealand, international travel demand could take years to return to what it was”.
The carrier has also secured a further $550 million in debt funding, secured against three of its wholly-owned Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
More information in today’s issue of Travel Daily.