Qantas launches flights between Perth and Rome.....

The Australian airline Qantas has launched another long-haul route as the country opens up more and more to tourists.  The airline has started Perth - Rome route and plans to offer other long-distance flights from Perth later this year -  Perth to Johannesburg from 1 November and Perth to Jakarta from 30 November.

Qantas’ new non-stop flight from Australia to Italy is the only direct flight between Australia and continental Europe offered by any airline.  It follows the popularity of the airline’s Perth to London flight which launched in 2018 and quickly became one of the most in-demand routes on the Qantas global network.

A recent study commissioned by Qantas confirms that traveller preference for point-to-point travel is higher than ever post-COVID.  Appeal for direct flights from Australia to London has increased from 45% to 59%.

Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce said Australian’s are once again embracing the opportunity to travel and direct flights are the way of the future. “We’re seeing an increasing preference for a non-stop flight to and from Australia to make the travel experience as efficient and easy as possible and we expect that will be a permanent shift in the way people want to travel.

“We saw an incredible rebound in domestic travel as state borders re-opened and we’re seeing the same thing now as more countries relax restrictions. Australians are definitely on the move. Our customers are heading overseas to reunite with family and friends, to reconnect business links, and to rediscover the world.

“Our flights from Perth to London are heavily booked, we’ve fast-tracked the return of our A380 fleet which will free up our 787s to operate new routes including Melbourne to Dallas, and we’re deploying A330’s to other new destinations including India and South Korea later this year.

“Qantas began services from Sydney to Rome in 1948 as part of our seven-stop Kangaroo Route to London, and from the early 1990s we flew our Queen-of-the-skies Boeing 747 twice a week until 2003 when direct services were suspended during the SARS pandemic.

“Almost 20 years later, we are excited our flight path once again leads to Rome proving it really is the eternal city.”

Qantas has announced it will increase flight frequency on the Sydney - Broken Hill route

Qantas has announced it will increase flight frequency on the Broken Hill – Sydney route following strong support from locals and visitors.

QantasLink initially launched in April with two services a week on a Monday and Friday but from 21 June, will operate a third-weekly service on Tuesdays with its 50 seat Q300 aircraft.  The airline has also announced it will ramp up to five weekly return services from 1 November.

Qantas will also add flights around key tourism events in the region, like the Mundi Mundi Bash, Broken Heel Festival and September school holidays.

QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the Broken Hill flights, launched on 8 April had been well-received by the local community, with strong demand in both directions.

“Since we started operating to Broken Hill, we’ve sold out several flights and our bookings looking ahead are great which gives us the confidence to add in another service to offer more convenience for both locals and visitors.” Mr Gissing said.

“When we launched, we indicated that we were in it for the long haul, and we are really happy with the response.”

“We are proud to serve Broken Hill and as a regional airline born in the outback, we understand the importance of connecting remote communities with major centres. We’d like to thank our customers in Broken Hill for giving us a go.”

Travellers will continue to enjoy the benefits of Qantas’ premium service, including complimentary food and drinks, baggage and lounge access in Sydney before they fly to Broken Hill. Customers can also connect via Sydney through Qantas’ extensive domestic and international network.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Qantas Group has commenced over 50 new domestic routes including to many regional destinations.

Search for flights and hotels to Broken Hill......

Broken Hill....... the ultimate outback oasis

There is nowhere else quite like Broken Hill, which has all the quirky culture and unique charm of an outback town with a camp claim to fame.

Broken Hill has a rich history as a mining town but it goes way beyond that and is perhaps these days better known for its arts scene with bush artists and artisans gravitating to the city for its stark landscapes and colours. There is a thriving arts community here with galleries galore - in fact, there are more galleries than there are pubs and I bet you didn't expect that!  

Broken Hill’s diverse landscape, the deep red soil, and the sparkling clear blue skies create beauty that is enchanting and captivating. You might have a feeling of Deja Vu in Broken Hill, but it isn't because you've secretly been there before,  but you've probably seen it before on the screen - home to the post-apocalyptic Mad Max or the over-the-top yet somehow magical Palace Hotel where you can follow in the footsteps of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - yes even stay in the same suite that the characters did! 

There is a good retail hub in Broken Hill,  so you'll find plenty of interesting things to buy as well as some sights to see. Walk down Argent Street and it is almost like you've gone back in time, from classic architecture to some new and trendy coffee shops and eating places.

No visit to Broken Hill would be complete without a tour of the Line of Load and the Miners memorial – a clear reminder of the difficult and somewhat dangerous working conditions those hardy souls had to endure. 

Destination Broken Hill & The Outback

The Palace Hotel Broken Hill

Some of the best hotels in Broken Hill      

Broken Hill Outback Resort 

Set in Broken Hill, 15 km from Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum, Broken Hill Outback Resort offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking and a bar.

Royal Exchange Hotel 4.5 stars

The Royal Exchange Hotel is centrally located in Broken Hill, close to the border with South Australia. Featuring Art Deco design, it offers air-conditioned rooms with TV and internet connection.

Comfort Inn Crystal Broken Hill 3 stars

The Comfort Inn Crystal is centrally located in Broken Hill, an isolated mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales

ibis Styles Broken Hill 4 stars 

Located in the heart of Broken Hill, ibis Styles Broken Hill offers 4-star. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, guest laundry facilities, a bar and a restaurant.

Hilltop Motel 3.5 stars

 Broken Hill

Located in the heart of Broken Hill, Hilltop Motel features a solar-heated outdoor pool, a restaurant and outdoor BBQ facilities. Betina’s Restaurant serves a tasty steak and seafood menu.

Desert Sand Motor Inn 3.5 stars

 Broken Hill

Located next door to a complex with a bar and bistro and only 5 minutes walk from Broken Hill town centre, Desert Sand Motor Inn offers an outdoor pool, barbecue facilities and off-street parking.

Red Earth Motel 4 stars

 Broken Hill

Red Earth Motel features a seasonal outdoor pool, barbecue facilities and free on-site parking.

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Qantas cutting some domestic flights as it ramps up international operations

Photo Qantas

The Qantas Group in Australia has issued an update on its operations as the travel industry continues to recover from COVID-19 and network adjustments continue to flow through.

The airline group has listed some of the recent developments at both Jetstar and Qantas as more and more services come back online.  Including slowly waking up the giant Airbus A380 aircraft from its enforced slumber and putting them back in service. However, Qantas is axing a number of domestic flights for July and August that it had previously scheduled, mainly due to a lack of staff, although capacity will still be above pre-covid levels. 

Photo Qantas

(All dates refer to 2022 unless otherwise indicated.)

Group International

• Group International continues to see strong demand, particularly as we move towards the northern summer peak and more countries relax restrictions.
• Group International capacity remains unchanged at just under 50 per cent of pre-COVID levels by the end of the fourth quarter of FY22 and rising to around 70 per cent by the end of the first quarter of FY23.
• Flights from Perth to London (QF9) resumed on 23 May, with one return flight per day operating through the Western Australian gateway after operating through Darwin since November last year. QF1 will reroute from Sydney-Darwin-London to operate Sydney-Singapore-London from 19 June and switch from a 787 back to an Airbus A380 service.
• Qantas will welcome a third A380 back from storage, which will return to service from 6 June on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route.
• Following the recent relaxation of New Zealand border restrictions, Qantas and Jetstar’s Tasman flying has ramped up significantly, including:
• Flights resumed from Australia to Queenstown and Wellington, and additional routes to Christchurch.

• Qantas has doubled the frequency of flights to Auckland from Melbourne and Sydney and is operating some flights from Brisbane with A330s.

  

  Photo Qantas

• Jetstar has restarted flights on all Australia to Auckland markets and will restart on the remaining Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington markets in the next few weeks.

Third Qantas Airbus A380 returning from storage to enter service from 6 June on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route. Plus more updates from the Australian airline group.

Photo Qantas

The Qantas Group in Australia has issued an update on its operations as the travel industry continues to recover from COVID-19 and network adjustments continue to flow through.

The airline group has listed some of the recent developments at both Jetstar and Qantas as more and more services come back online.  Including slowly waking up the giant Airbus A380 aircraft from its enforced slumber and putting them back in service. However, Qantas is axing a number of domestic flights for July and August that it had previously scheduled, mainly due to a lack of staff, although capacity will still be above pre-covid levels. 

Photo Qantas

(All dates refer to 2022 unless otherwise indicated.)

Group International

• Group International continues to see strong demand, particularly as we move towards the northern summer peak and more countries relax restrictions.
• Group International capacity remains unchanged at just under 50 per cent of pre-COVID levels by the end of the fourth quarter of FY22 and rising to around 70 per cent by the end of the first quarter of FY23.
• Flights from Perth to London (QF9) resumed on 23 May, with one return flight per day operating through the Western Australian gateway after operating through Darwin since November last year. QF1 will reroute from Sydney-Darwin-London to operate Sydney-Singapore-London from 19 June and switch from a 787 back to an Airbus A380 service.
• Qantas will welcome a third A380 back from storage, which will return to service from 6 June on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route.
• Following the recent relaxation of New Zealand border restrictions, Qantas and Jetstar’s Tasman flying has ramped up significantly, including:
• Flights resumed from Australia to Queenstown and Wellington, and additional routes to Christchurch.

• Qantas has doubled the frequency of flights to Auckland from Melbourne and Sydney and is operating some flights from Brisbane with A330s.

  

  Photo Qantas

• Jetstar has restarted flights on all Australia to Auckland markets and will restart on the remaining Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington markets in the next few weeks.

Leading Australian airline offering flights on a fly now, pay later credit basis......

As the global financial crisis begins to bite, an Australian airline is offering flights on credit with a fly now and pay later offer.

Qantas customers can ‘fly now, pay later with a new payment option which is available on both domestic and international flights with credit provider Zip and earn Qantas Points.  Frequent Flyers will also be able to choose to earn Qantas Points through Zip’s loyalty program, Zip Rewards, when making some everyday purchases providing another way for members to maximise the points they earn.

Specifically, frequent flyers can earn:

3,000 points when they sign up and link their Zip account and complete their first transaction.

500 points each time they reach their Zip Rewards goal (see below for further details).

1 point for every $3 spent on eligible flights on qantas.com with Zip.

Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said this is the first time the airline has partnered with a buy now, pay later provider to offer the payment option for flight bookings.  "After two years of restricted travel Australians are making up for lost time. Domestic travel is back at pre-COVID levels while international travel is building back strongly to destinations like the US, Europe, Bali and Fiji.  The option to buy now, pay later through Zip gives our customers more choice in how they pay for their flights. With Zip they can spread the cost over time choosing flexible repayments, and also earn Qantas Points on the payment as well as the flight itself."

The airline seems to have no issues with sharing the details of its 14 million frequent flyers with Zip.  "Zip is thrilled to partner with Qantas to transform the way Australians pay for travel. By giving customers access to Zip’s fair, flexible and transparent payment solutions, travellers can sit back and enjoy their trip knowing they’re in control of their finances when they get home." Said Zip ANZ Managing Director, Cynthia Scott, adding:  "We are also giving freedom and choice back to customers by giving them the option to pay for their trip before they go, or when they get back. Plus, they can earn Qantas Points along the way. We want Zip to be the first payment choice everywhere and every day and partnering with leaders in travel like Qantas will help get us there sooner.

Project Sunrise leads Qantas to selecting Airbus A350-1000 for those mega long flights..... New order for 52 Airbus planes for Australia's leading airline.

Australia’s Qantas Group has confirmed that it will order 12 A350-1000s, 20 A220s and 20 A321XLRs. The news was announced at a ceremony in Sydney attended by Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer.

The A350-1000 was selected by Qantas following an evaluation known as Project Sunrise and will enable the carrier to operate the world's longest commercial flights. These will include linking Sydney and Melbourne with destinations such as London and New York non-stop for the first time ever. Featuring a premium layout, the A350 fleet will also be used by Qantas on other international services. The A350-1000 is powered by the latest generation Trent XWB engines from Rolls-Royce.

A350-1000 to fly world’s longest routes

A220, A321XLR to renew carrier’s domestic fleet

New levels of efficiency, comfort and sustainability

In the single-aisle category, the A220 and A321XLR were chosen under an evaluation called Project Winton. The aircraft will be used by the Qantas Group on domestic services across the country, which can extend to over five hours. In addition, the A321XLR offers the range capability for flights from Australia to South East Asia, enabling the Qantas Group to open up new direct routes. The A220 and A321XLR fleets will both be powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.

This agreement is in addition to the existing order for 109 A320neo Family aircraft, which includes the A321XLR for the Qantas Group low-cost subsidiary Jetstar.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “New types of aircraft make new things possible. That’s what makes today’s announcement so significant for the national carrier and for a country like Australia where air travel is crucial. The A350 and Project Sunrise will make any city just one flight away from Australia. It’s the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance.”

“The A320s and A220s will become the backbone of our domestic fleet for the next 20 years, helping to keep this country moving. Their range and economics will make new direct routes possible. “The Board’s decision to green light what is the largest aircraft order in Australian aviation is a clear vote of confidence in the future of Qantas.”

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International said: "Qantas is one of the world’s iconic airlines, with a visionary spirit from its inception over 100 years ago. We are honoured by the confidence that Qantas is placing in Airbus and look forward to delivering to the Group one of the world’s most modern, efficient and sustainable fleets. This decision by Qantas underscores the position of the A350 as the reference long-range widebody aircraft."

Qantas confirms future Airbus fleet with order for 52 aircraft

Australia’s Qantas Group has confirmed that it will order 12 A350-1000s, 20 A220s and 20 A321XLRs. The news was announced at a ceremony in Sydney attended by Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer.

The A350-1000 was selected by Qantas following an evaluation known as Project Sunrise and will enable the carrier to operate the world's longest commercial flights. These will include linking Sydney and Melbourne with destinations such as London and New York non-stop for the first time ever. Featuring a premium layout, the A350 fleet will also be used by Qantas on other international services. The A350-1000 is powered by the latest generation Trent XWB engines from Rolls-Royce.

A350-1000 to fly world’s longest routes

A220, A321XLR to renew carrier’s domestic fleet

New levels of efficiency, comfort and sustainability

In the single-aisle category, the A220 and A321XLR were chosen under an evaluation called Project Winton. The aircraft will be used by the Qantas Group on domestic services across the country, which can extend to over five hours. In addition, the A321XLR offers the range capability for flights from Australia to South East Asia, enabling the Qantas Group to open up new direct routes. The A220 and A321XLR fleets will both be powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.

This agreement is in addition to the existing order for 109 A320neo Family aircraft, which includes the A321XLR for the Qantas Group low-cost subsidiary Jetstar.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “New types of aircraft make new things possible. That’s what makes today’s announcement so significant for the national carrier and for a country like Australia where air travel is crucial. The A350 and Project Sunrise will make any city just one flight away from Australia. It’s the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance.”

“The A320s and A220s will become the backbone of our domestic fleet for the next 20 years, helping to keep this country moving. Their range and economics will make new direct routes possible. “The Board’s decision to green light what is the largest aircraft order in Australian aviation is a clear vote of confidence in the future of Qantas.”

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International said: "Qantas is one of the world’s iconic airlines, with a visionary spirit from its inception over 100 years ago. We are honoured by the confidence that Qantas is placing in Airbus and look forward to delivering to the Group one of the world’s most modern, efficient and sustainable fleets. This decision by Qantas underscores the position of the A350 as the reference long-range widebody aircraft."

The A220, A321XLR and A350 are the market leaders in their respective size categories. In addition to offering the highest levels of passenger comfort, the aircraft bring a step-change in efficiency, using up to 25% less fuel, a similar reduction in carbon emissions and a noise footprint 50% lower than previous generation aircraft.

All in-production Airbus aircraft are certified to fly with a 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend, with a target to increase this to 100% by 2030.

.

 
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Qantas has officially added Dili, Timor-Leste to its route map this week with new regular service from Darwin.

Qantas has officially added Dili to its route map this week with the first of the airline’s regular passenger flights taking off from Darwin, strengthening the ties between Australia and Timor-Leste.

Three return flights will operate each week with the dual-class E190 aircraft, ramping up to five weekly return flights from July, boosting business, tourism and freight connections.

The E190 aircraft operate on Qantas’ network as part of an agreement with Alliance Airlines. The aircraft’s size, range and economics have opened up a number of routes from Darwin that wouldn’t be viable with larger aircraft.

Darwin-Dili is the national carrier’s first new ongoing international route from Darwin since 2008 and Qantas’ first international E190 route.

QantasLink Chief Operating Officer Petrea Bradford, who is in Darwin to travel on the inaugural flight, said that the national carrier’s new service would help strengthen the deep connection between Australia and Timor-Leste.

"We’re excited to be officially adding Dili to our route map today and helping to build the incredibly important links between Australia and one of our closest neighbours," Ms Bradford said.  "After two years of closed borders, this new route is a key part of Qantas’ focus on rebuilding connectivity in the region for businesses, families and freight. Travellers from Timor-Leste will also be able to seamlessly transfer through Darwin to the Qantas Group’s extensive domestic and international network. Dili is just over an hour’s flight from Darwin and is a great destination for the adventurous traveller, with incredible natural beauty, unique cultural experiences and great coffee and cuisine. We look forward to working to promote Timor-Leste and all it has to offer to millions of our frequent flyers."

During COVID, Qantas temporarily operated weekly flights between Darwin and Dili in partnership with the Australian Government to maintain critical passenger and freight links while international borders were closed.

The new ongoing passenger route follows the recently announced E190 base in Darwin that will create more than 90 new local aviation jobs and service key QantasLink routes from the NT capital across Australia. The Darwin-Dili flights follow two new domestic routes from Darwin taking off this week to Cairns and Townsville.

The Qantas Group operates 18 routes from Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru, and non-stop options from Darwin to eight domestic destinations.

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Qantas launches Melbourne - Dallas route......

New direct route connecting Melbourne and Dallas Fort Worth for the first time
Doubling of flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles
Qantas A380s to return to Melbourne
Melbourne International Business Lounge reopens

Melbourne’s post-COVID tourism recovery is set to accelerate with Qantas launching a new direct route from Dallas Fort Worth and significantly increasing flights from Los Angeles.

From 2 December 2022, the national carrier will operate four weekly return flights between Melbourne and major US hub, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), with its Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

These are the first direct flights by any airline between the two cities and follows the success of Qantas’ longstanding Sydney-Dallas Fort Worth route.

Dallas Fort Worth is home to Qantas’ partner American Airlines, providing seamless connections between Australia and over 200 cities across the US, Canada, Mexico and South America.

Fares are on sale from today starting from $2128.

More A380s for LA flight schedule

Qantas is adding another four weekly return flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles with its 787s, up from four currently, to meet strong demand on the route.  The additional flights are operating from this week.

The airline’s refurbished A380s will resume operating some of these flights to LA from December, marking the return of Qantas’ superjumbo and reintroduction of First Class to Melbourne.

The aircraft have a reconfigured Business cabin, with 70 updated suites, an extended Premium Economy section with 60 seats(up from 35) as well as refreshed Economy and First cabins. The upper deck lounge (open to Business and First passengers) has been expanded and upgraded with booth style seating for 10 people, a self-service bar and an option to order signature drinks and snacks. Thirty Economy seats were removed to make room for more premium seating.

Lounge reopens.....

The Qantas Melbourne International Business Lounge has today welcomed its first visitors since the start of pandemic, with customers flying to Delhi this morning the first to reacquaint themselves with the lounge.

The Melbourne First Lounge, which operated as a hybrid First/Business Lounge during the pandemic, has reverted to the full premium offering.

Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said the airline was thrilled to be adding another new international destination out of Melbourne.

“No city in the world did it tougher during COVID than Melbourne, but no city is bouncing back as quickly,” Ms Tully said.

“We are seeing really strong demand from Melburnians wanting to travel overseas for a holiday or business trip after two years at home, while inbound tourism is starting to pick up. Flights to the United States are particularly strong with Los Angeles bookings now exceeding pre-COVID levels.

“As well as being a destination in its own right, Dallas Fort Worth is one of the biggest hub airports in the United States and is located less than a four-hour flight from every major US city.

“These new flights provide excellent connections for Australians visiting the United States and allow Melbourne to tap into an enormous inbound tourism market from cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, Houston, Washington DC, and Miami, as well as saving hours of travel time.

“We know large numbers of customers have been travelling between Melbourne and Dallas Fort Worth via our existing Sydney service, which gives us great confidence about how this route will perform when flights start.

“Our customers in Melbourne have told us they have really missed the Qantas A380, so it’s fantastic that they’ll be back flying by the end of the year with our full premium service on these newly refurbished aircraft.

“We thank the Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport for their support and assisting in the recovery of tourism to Melbourne and the regions.”

Further information:

Qantas continues to offer a Fly Flexible booking policy with unlimited flight date changes available on flights booked before 30 June for travel until 31 December 2022 (fare difference may apply).

For the remainder of 2022, frequent flyers will also continue to enjoy access to up to 50 per cent more Classic Flight Reward seat availability on Qantas’ international routes, including to the US.

 

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Qantas starts up more domestic routes.

Qantas launched four new routes across its domestic network yesterday, boosting connectivity between regional centres and capital cities.

The new routes – Adelaide-Newcastle, Brisbane-Wagga Wagga, Darwin-Townsville and Darwin-Cairns – provide direct connections and reduce travel time for customers. The national carrier is also the only airline to offer direct flights on two of the routes, between Adelaide and Newcastle and Brisbane and Wagga Wagga.

The routes follow new Qantas flights between Sydney and Uluru (Ayers Rock Airport) taking off on Sunday.

QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the new services were among 52 new routes the national carrier has added to its domestic network since the beginning of the pandemic as Australians looked for local travel opportunities.

“Qantas has a tremendous history of connecting people and economies across Australia. What we’ve seen over the past two years, is that what started as a way of meeting pent-up demand for Aussies to travel where they could, is being sustained as visitors discover new destinations and as business links flourish,” Mr Gissing said.

“Not only have we seen a huge surge in demand for domestic tourism, but we have a seen a real shift towards investment in our regional communities as economic and industrial hubs.”

Three weekly return flights will operate on Darwin-Townsville, Brisbane-Wagga and Adelaide-Newcastle with four weekly return flights on Darwin-Cairns, together adding more than 2,300 seats into Qantas’s domestic network each week.

Qantas has also recommenced flights between Sydney and Toowoomba with an improved business-friendly schedule offering double daily weekday flights and daily weekend flights.

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Qantas launches new advertising campaign to showcase the Spirit of Australia

Photo  KIKU OHE

More than 35 years after Qantas first launched an advertising campaign using the iconic Peter Allen anthem I Still Call Australia Home, the airline has unveiled a new version of the advertisement to showcase Australia as the world re-opens and travellers return to the skies.

The advert has a contemporary arrangement of the song and features the vocals of a new generation of the Australian Girls Choir together with National Boys Choir, the Gondwana Choir and some of Australia’s most loved personalities.

Along with Kylie Minogue, Ash Barty, Hugh Jackman and Troye Sivan, the campaign also stars children from Longreach, Qantas staff, Adam Goodes, members of Bangarra Dance Theatre, swimmers Bronte Campbell and Ellie Cole and Aboriginal Elder Rene Kulitja.

The advert was filmed pre-COVID at locations around Australia, from the spectacular Hutt Lagoon in WA to the jagged cliffs of Cape Raoul in Tasmania. Scenes were also filmed in Melbourne, Uluru, Hobart, Brisbane, Sydney, South Australia’s salt lakes, Longreach, the Whitsundays, Los Angeles, Tokyo and London.

Photo BRENT WINSTONE

The final cut of the advertisement highlights emotional reunions with loved ones as more Australians are travelling domestically and international visitors are returning.

Domestic travel demand has strengthened significantly since February this year, with Qantas and Jetstar’s capacity for Easter expected to reach 110 per cent of pre-COVID levels. This compares with an average of 40 per cent for the second half of last calendar year.

Internationally, bookings for destinations including Los Angeles, London and Hawaii are above pre-COVID levels and another boost is expected when New Zealand’s border opens to Australians from 12 April. Qantas has added several new overseas routes in the past six months, including Perth-Rome and Melbourne-Delhi, with more to follow.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said now is the ideal time to unveil the new version of the much-loved theme and provide a boost to Australia’s tourism industry recovery.

Photo KIKU OHE

Qantas A380 wake ups will see first class return to the skies.

The Australian airline Qantas has confirmed that it is about to reinstate its full First Class offering at the end of this month both on the ground and in the air as post-pandemic international travel steadily recovers and the national carrier wakes up more of its A380 superjumbo fleet.

A fourth Qantas A380 has emerged from the Californian desert with Reginald Ansett (VH-OQH) leaving the storage yard this month for the first time since it was parked there in March 2020.

Qantas utilised the downtime while the aircraft were in the desert to upgrade the popular A380s increasing the number of premium seats and refurbishing the cabins. The aircraft have a reconfigured business class cabin, with 70 updated business suites, and an extended premium economy section with 60 seats, up from 35, as well as refreshed economy and First cabins.

The upper deck lounge has also had a full upgrade with booth style seating for 10 people, a self-service bar and an option to order signature drinks and snacks.

From 27 March, Qantas will reopen its Sydney and Melbourne International Business Lounges as more passengers take to the skies and revert its First Lounges in Australia, which operated as hybrid First/Business Lounges during the pandemic, to the full premium offering.

Eligible First Lounge customers will again enjoy a Neil Perry curated à la carte dining menu, Champagnes and fine Australian wines, as well as a seasonal cocktail selection.

The Spa will also reopen offering bespoke pre-travel treatments such as hot stone massages and mini facials using LaGaia products.

Qantas Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said the return of airline’s premium offerings is a welcome sign of travel continuing to take off.

“We know that our customers have missed the Qantas A380 travel experience as much as our team has missed being able to provide it for them so it’s fantastic that we’re back in the air with our premium full service on these newly refurbished aircraft.”

The First cabin on the 485-seat A380 is popular with Frequent Flyers for its comfortable suites with fully lay flat beds, premium Neil Perry multi-course dining experience, award winning Australian wine cellar and Martin Grant designed PJs.

Qantas will also reopen its First Check-in suite at Sydney International for First customers and top tier Frequent Flyers to enjoy a personalised and streamlined check-in.

The Qantas A380 currently operates flights from Sydney to Los Angeles and from June will also operate flights between Sydney and London via Singapore.

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