More information on these flights:
VA only getting 3 of the weekly 13 flights at this stage
1x BNE-LAX return per week
2x BNE-HKG returns per week
Qantas and Virgin Australia will operate a total of 13 flights a week to bring Australians home from overseas after the federal government agreed to subsidise the cost of the services during the coronavirus crisis.
From Thursday, Qantas will do ten return flights a week including one London-Melbourne via Perth at a cost of around $1500 a ticket. No-one will be allowed to disembark in Perth.
Other services include one between Los Angeles and Brisbane; two Hong Kong-Brisbane and two Hong Kong-Melbourne, and two a week between Auckland-Brisbane and Auckland-Melbourne.
Hong Kong and LA flights will cost under $1000 a seat, and those from Auckland between $300 and $400.
The flights can only be booked through qantas.com.
All passengers returning to Australia will be subject to the two-weeks of supervised quarantine, like all other overseas arrivals.
It’s understood none of the flights are going to Sydney because the government wants to spread quarantine to other states.
Qantas will use its Boeing 787-9s to operate the services but because of a pause in licensing arrangements by the airline to save money during the coronavirus crisis, seat back in-flight entertainment screens won’t be in operation.
A basic food and drink service will be provided and there will be no frequent flyer points or status credits applied for the flights.
Customers will not be able to book in particular cabins, such as business or premium economy with a set fare for everyone.
The same will apply for anyone wishing to book a seat heading out of Australia.
A Qantas spokesman said they were proud to be operating the flights on behalf of the federal government to help bring more Australians home.
“Maintaining strategic air connections from Australia to hubs in the UK, US, Hong Kong and New Zealand will enable essential travel and freight to continue during this crisis,” he said.
Virgin Australia will also provide government-subsidised services including one return flight between LA and Brisbane and two return flights between Brisbane and Hong Kong.
Fare details have not been provided as yet.
A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said they were pleased to support the government in getting Australians home and maintain important freight links into the country.
Under the deal with the government, taxpayers will cover the cost of the outbound flights and any shortfall in the cost of operating the inbound flights.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the services would build on the $1bn in support the government had already committed to Australia’s aviation industry.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said constructive discussions were continuing with Virgin Australia and Qantas about other services to less accessible destinations, like South America and the Pacific Islands.
www.theaustralian.com.au
www.smh.com.au
