Qantas / Jetstar moves to resume flights

As travel restrictions start to ease across our country, Qantas and Jetstar have announced they will increase their domestic and regional flying for June and July. The additional services will see capacity increase from 5 per cent of pre-coronavirus levels to 15 per cent by the end of June. This equates to more than 300 more return flights per week. Additional flights will likely operate during July depending on travel demand and further relaxation of state borders, with the ability to increase to up to 40 per cent of pre-crisis domestic capacity by the end of July. The changes will see more services on capital city routes, particularly Melbourne-Sydney and a number of routes to-and-from Canberra. There will also be increased intrastate flights in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. Regional areas including Broome, Cairns and Rockhampton will see a significant boost in weekly flights as part of the new schedules. Qantas will also commence flights from Sydney to Ballina, after the route launch was postponed due to the coronavirus. In addition to extra flights, a number of states have floated the idea of a travel bubble that could become a reality in just a month in time for school holidays. Authorities in South Australia, Canberra and Tasmania are reportedly considering the measures which would allow residents to move freely between the borders, given their relatively low number of coronavirus cases. The aim is to open the borders in some form by July 3, when school holidays begin in the ACT, NSW, SA, Tasmania and WA.

It comes amid ongoing talks between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about a potential Trans-Tasman bubble. While talking about flights starting up - The State Government has struck a deal with Alliance Airlines who will fly four times a week from Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast with flights starting from just $99 one way. These extra flights will begin from the 22nd June, just in time for school holidays. But for anyone who is thinking of a Whitsundays getaway soon is being urged to shop around. A check of the Jetstar website shows Jetstar have flights available from Brisbane for as little as $62 during July and August.