An update on when we can fly overseas

The big story today: Qantas has announced they’re planning to resume international flights in October. This came the same day as the company posted a $1.08 billion revenue half-year loss.
This announcement was made by CEO Alan Joyce yesterday. But we really have to first put the announcement in the context of what else Qantas told us yesterday - the loss of revenue you just mentioned. It’s definitely a matter of trying to find some good to match the really bad, but in any case, it’s a pretty important announcement and does give a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel - but the tunnel seems pretty damn long. 

Before yesterday, you could actually buy a ticket to the US, UK and a few other countries for after July 1. Now, the earliest you can fly overseas is October. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told us that Australia will need to be effectively finished with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout before international flights are back on the cards, and October is more realistic for that to occur. 

But on the other hand it doesn‘t really matter what Qantas wants to do - it’s always going to rely on whether borders are actually opened by the Federal Government. Later this year, we predict the Government will be in a tricky position - after we are all vaccinated, Australians will be pushing hard to travel to countries that also have completed a vaccination program. Qantas will be keen to get some bums on seats, and some dollars in the bank, but the Government will be very cautious with allowing visitors into Australia, or allowing Australians to come back home from overseas without a quarantine program. 

Some other important Qantas news: the airline expects to increase domestic capacity to 80% of pre-COVID levels by mid-year. Alan Joyce told us yesterday that,he’s asked state and federal leaders to promise that, after a certain point in the vaccination program, there will be no need to reimpose state borders if there are smaller breakouts.