QANTAS: Still not quite giving up on international flying in 2021

Despite the Federal Government making budget assumptions that Australian borders will not be open to international travel before mid-2022, Qantas is still holding out hope for a start in late December 2021.

… the Qantas Group will adjust its planned international flights from end-October 2021 to late December 2021.  (Trans Tasman flights are unchanged.) 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.

Qantas Responds

Is this prudent planning by Qantas, or a way of not having to return deposits/payments for flights already purchased for 2022? I will give them the benefit of the doubt, especially since they claim bookings around those dates have been pretty light given the state of passengers uncertainty.

If you have such a booking between October and late December 2021 – Qantas will be in contact – or you should get onto your travel provider. Expect long wait times if you are calling Qantas.

Trans Tasman Bubble – unaffected

Just remember, that this does not affect the existing flights between Australia and New Zealand, so no need to panic there.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

Back to planning my July trip to the North Island . . . Hobbiton? No.