Qantas will present its 2021 financial report tomorrow (Thursday, August 26), as well as its ‘roadmap’, with details of how international and regional routes are expected to open up.
Most global airlines are in a parlous state, but Qantas's international network has been almost totally paralysed. The only flights that took place were those in the bubble with New Zealand and repatriation flights. International flights would normally account for around AUD8bn (€4.93bn) in annual revenue.
According to Australian business travel publication, Executive Traveller, the airline could once again be tipped into a multibillion-dollar loss.
The publication quotes Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce, saying: "What we'll do next week is talk about what our expectations are on our best estimates of how international (travel) could open up," during a media briefing following the airline's decision to require mandatory COVID vaccination for all employees as well as most international passengers.
Joyce told the briefing that Australia and Qantas would embrace the Iata Travel Pass. "We are technically getting ready with the IATA Travel Pass, so that can be part of the thinking process and part of the check-in process to ensure we are compliant with countries that have that as a requirement, and also our own requirements for people to travel."
Qantas initially mooted the return of international flights in July, then revised that to November 2021, and now says it might still happen in December 2021. Everything depends on when Australia’s 80% vaccination goal is achieved. The South African flights will not open up before December, and it remains to be seen when this route will become active.
A likely first move when the 80% level is achieved will be the creation of bubbles for vaxxed travellers – Singapore, Australia's neighbouring Pacific Islands, Japan and South Korea have been named as likely candidates, plus the UK and US, according to Federal Tourism Minister, Dan Tehan, speaking at a recent Tourism Australia webinar.
