Qantas: International flights back in July 2021?

It looks like Qantas is back selling tickets for its own flights to destinations like London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan as of 1 July 2021 on its de-mothballed 787s.

Background

Qantas had previously scheduled flights to potential travel bubbles like Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan as of March 2021, but with minor and major outbreaks in some of these destinations, as well as the current hot spots in Australia, they have abandoned this plan.

Vaccine confidence

Sounds like Qantas is confident that a vaccine will be available well before July since CEO Alan Joyce has said a valid vaccination certificate will be mandatory for travel.

It means that Qantas believes a vaccine will be available to the general travelling public by at the latest, June since most of the vaccine’s Australia has licensed will need two jabs, two weeks apart, and 28 days from the first needle to obtain maximum protection.

Border opening

It also means that Australia will need to open its borders which have been closed to most or all of the world since March 2020. Australians with travel exemptions are not going to be a big enough market for Qantas to resume scheduled international flights.

Pricey flights

You can see these flights available on its sale schedule, although don’t expect any sale prices. You can fly Sydney to London via Perth on a Business Saver fare of AU$6,296. Alternately, if you are OK with 2 stops and travelling via Melbourne and Perth from Sydney, then the cheapest business fare is AU$5062.

Frankly, you’d be better booking on Qantas for an Emirates flight at AU$4,190 where you can score an A380 on at least one leg.

New York – not until October

If you are intent on travelling to the New York with Qantas, then you’re going to have to wait until October.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

I won’t be first in line for July 2021 flights on Qantas. Couple of reasons. Mainly, I’m not convinced that borders and a vaccine will be generally available by then. Secondly, without a proven effective vaccine, there is no way I am approaching COVID-19 ridden Europe or the United Kingdom, which happened to announce a total (Level 5) national lockdown today.

I might consider Asia though. What were those dates again . . .