With British Airways resuming long-haul Airbus A380 service and Qatar Airways ‘reluctantly’ preparing to welcome back the aircraft, Routes looks at the latest operations of the superjumbo.
Qantas is seeing another surge in domestic travel as more interstate borders reopen, and the carrier is also optimistic about international demand with the return of many overseas routes.
The easing of many domestic border restrictions in Australia will give a welcome boost to the local airline industry as carriers ramp up their interstate networks again.
Qantas is accelerating restart plans for several more international routes, allowing the carrier to reactivate widebody aircraft and recall employees ahead of its previous forecasts.
The initiative is part of a wider A$530 million investment plan the New South Wales state government is offering to “supercharge” its tourism and travel economy.
The airlines, which have existing approvals from regulators to operate a joint business until March 2023, will seek re-authorization to continue the core elements of the partnership until 2028.
Australia’s flag-carrier plans to extend its joint business with Emirates for a further five years and has brought forward the resumption of two long-haul routes.
The airline has adapted its flying schedule in response to state reopening plans and latest border assumptions in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
Ryanair’s domestic expansion in Sweden, Swoop adding a fourth destination in Mexico, and Austrian Airlines returning to Montreal are among the latest new route announcements and service resumptions.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has denied authorization for Qantas Airways and Japan Airlines (JAL) to coordinate flights between Australia and Japan.
Destinations with high vaccination rates are an initial focus, while Australia’s flag-carrier is evaluating whether to operate scheduled service between London Heathrow and Darwin.
The latest surge of COVID-19 cases in Australia has dealt a crucial blow to local airlines that were beginning to recover some momentum based on their domestic strength.
