Australia's hard international frontier is going down, from nothing to something. The situation is complex and each state has the final say in who can enter. These are the current plans.
New South Wales
Australia's largest state is leading the charge for international travel openings. Fully-vaccinated Australians, permanent residents, and fully-vaccinated Australians will be allowed to enter NSW starting 1 November. However, a previous proposal to allow tourists to enter NSW has been scrapped. The NSW government will soon release testing requirements, but all travellers aged 12 and over will need to be properly vaccinated.
Qantas will relaunch international flights departing Sydney on 1 November to key destinations.
Los Angeles: Four weekly returns starting November 1st
4 weekly returns starting in November London; 5 weekly beginning in November
5 weekly starting 1 November Singapore: 3 weekly starting 23 November
3 weekly starting 23 November Delhi; 3 weekly starting 6 December
3 weekly starting 6th December Nadi:4 weekly starting 7th December
4 Weekly starting 7/12/2010 in Vancouver.
Tokyo, 18 December: Starting 19 December
Honolulu, December 19th: December 20th
Johannesburg, 20 December: 3 weekly starting 5 January
3 weekly starting on 5 January Phuket; 3 weekly starting on 12 January
3 weekly starting 12 January Bangkok, 5 weekly starting 14 January
We hope to be able restart international flights from capital cities as vaccine rates increase in other states or territories. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.
Victoria
Victoria, inspired by an increasing vaccination rate, has allowed fully vaccinated Australians into the country starting 1 November.
Two PCR tests must be completed by all vaccinated arrivals within 72 hours after their flight to Melbourne. The second test must be done within 24 hours. Unvaccinated persons will need to undergo 14 days of quarantine at hotel expense, subject to a 250-per-week quarantine limit.
Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines will each bring Melbourne flights forward to November 1, while Qatar Airways will start daily flights starting December 1. Thai Airways indicated that they may resume Bangkok-Melbourne flights in 2022.
The Qantas Group has also brought forward Melbourne services. Other destinations like Japan and Hong Kong will resume service in the new year.
London: Two weekly return flights to London starting at 6 November, daily from 18 December
2 weekly return flights starting 6th November (daily at 18th December). Singapore: 3 weekly departures starting 22nd November (daily at 18th December).
3 weekly starting 22 November (daily starting 18 December) Los Angeles: Resume from 18 December
Alan Joyce praised Victorian Government's decision and said it would make it easier to go on the trips that people have been wanting to take.
More States to Come
Victoria and NSW will open up by themselves, while other states like Queensland will indicate that their borders will remain closed through 2022. Western Australia will maintain a strict international border, as it has for most of 2021 barred entry to Sydney and Melbourne. Darwin will be the transit hub for Qantas London flights, until April 2022.
Singapore: Travel Bubble
Australia will soon open a travel bubble to Singapore, according to local media reports. The opening is expected to take place within the next few weeks. Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister, stated that the proposed bubble would allow our borders to open faster to Singapore.
The arrangement proposed would be similar to New Zealand's South Island travel bubble. PM Morrison stated that talks revolve around allowing Singaporean students and businesspeople to visit first, before tourists can come in later.
On Friday, Singapore's prime minister responded that he was thrilled to have received the invitation from Australia.
The Return of Qantas A380: Early!
Qantas has also accelerated the return to service of its A380 fleet.
The original plan was for the aircraft to be stored in the California desert for a long time. Two refurbished A380s will begin flights to Los Angeles starting in April 2022. To assist in crew training, one aircraft could be ready by the end this year.
Three additional A380s will be back in service at mid-November 2022, with five more expected to return to service early 2024.
Qantas also plans to move forward delivery of three new 787-9 aircraft that are currently stored with Boeing. This is due to increased demand. Jetstar will soon remove the five remaining Boeing 787-8s from storage in Alice Springs.
