Qantas is currently operating just 5% of its pre-pandemic domestic flight schedule. However, Australia’s largest airline has announced plans to get back to 40% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of July.
“As travel restrictions start to ease across the country, Qantas and Jetstar will increase their domestic and regional flying in June and July 2020,” the company said in a statement. “Further flights will be added in July, in time for the school holidays, as states open their borders.”
The states have yet to reach a unified decision on when and how to reopen borders. It’ll likely depend on how successful the gradual easing of lockdowns proves to be. However, Qantas are preparing for the imminent reintroduction of interstate travel. “Normally, we plan our capacity months in advance, but in the current climate we need to be flexible to respond to changing restrictions and demand levels,” CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement.
The airline has scheduled 40% of its regular service to be back in action by the end of July. They’re aiming to be at 15% by the end of June, which adds up to roughly 300 return flights per week. They’re also hoping to see the number of flights between Sydney and Melbourne quintuple by the end of June.
The prohibition of inter-state travel caused Qantas to lay off some 25,000 staff members in March. The company is eager to get its people back in the air and last month announced a range of on-board safety measures that’ll be implemented from Friday, June 12th.
Joyce told Channel 7’s Sunrise why he doesn’t think social distancing is necessary on a plane. “All the air on an aircraft is filtered through medical grade filters, which filter out about 99.9% of all viruses,” he said. However, passengers will be given masks as well as wipes to sanitise seat belts, trays and armrests.
Check out “Qantas boss Alan Joyce tops list of highest paid CEOs” via 7NEWS:
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