Key points
- Qantas hopes to restart international flights by mid-December
- The airline’s Christmas wish has already activated planning for initial routes
- Total loss by end of year due to pandemic is expected to reach $20 billion
In fact, the airline has already started planning, ahead of the hoped return to international skies.
“It's obviously up to government exactly how and when our international borders re-open, but with Australia on track to meet the 80 per cent trigger agreed by National Cabinet by the end of the year, we need to plan ahead for what is a complex restart process," said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce noting that adjusting plans is always on the cards if needed.
Among initial routes planned, the airline said, are Singapore, the United States, Japan, United Kingdom and Canada.
The New Zealand travel bubble is also hoped to resume in some by mid-December, while Qantas said it expected the reopening of further international destinations from April 2022.
"Some people might say we're being too optimistic, but based on the pace of the vaccine rollout, this is within reach and we want to make sure we're ready,” Mr Joyce said.
Qantas reported a $1.73 billion loss in the 2020-21 financial year, with estimates that the total pandemic cost by the end of the calendar year is set to reach $20 billion.
