Australia’s tourism industry has welcomed national flag carrier Qantas’s announcement that it is to speed up its timetable for the resumption of flights to a number of international markets over the next three months. “This is another strong sign that Australia is on the path to reopening, giving hope to thousands of tourism businesses who have been left without an income since March 2020,” ATEC managing director Peter Shelley said. Flights from Sydney to Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Johannesburg and Fiji will resume ahead of schedule from as early as 23 November for Singapore, and throughout December and January for the other destinations. The Australian prime minister has also given renewed encouragement that there could also be a quarantine-free Singapore travel bubble opening up soon. Qantas will bring forward international flights from Melbourne following the Victorian Government’s decision to remove quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers returning from overseas from November. The updated international schedule out of Melbourne published 22 October includes:
- Melbourne to London: Qantas flights will be brought forward to 6 November 2021, six weeks earlier than scheduled, operating two days per week with 787 aircraft and ramping up to daily from 18 December 2021.
- Melbourne to Singapore: Qantas flights will be brought forward to 22 November 2021, three weeks ahead of scheduled, operating three days per week with A330 aircraft and ramping up to daily from 18 December. Jetstar will also recommence flying four times a week between Melbourne and Singapore using 787 aircraft, a route it hasn’t flown since 2019.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “It’s great to see Melbourne reopening and the decision by the Victorian Government to remove quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers will make it easier for people to take the trips they’ve been longing to take. We’ve immediately brought forward our flights from Melbourne to Singapore and London in response.” “We congratulate Qantas on their leadership and the Australian community on their uptake in vaccinations which has helped to get us to this point earlier than expected and look forward to announcements by the Federal Government on the date we can welcome back international travellers,” said Shelley. Photo: Source – Qantas
