Airlines restart routes while Tasmania, NZ remain in doubt

Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Tiger have continued to resume scheduled flights on Australian domestic routes but will not return to Tasmania until later this afternoon as the ash cloud from Chile’s Puyehue-Cordon Caulle edges closer to New Zealand’s north and south islands.

As a result, trans-Tasman flights have also been ruled out by Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar, with the latter planning to resume flights to and from Launceston at 12pm and Hobart at 5pm AEST. Qantas has  cancelled all Tasmania services up until 5pm this afternoon.