Hannah Dowling

From mid-December, Qantas and Jetstar will reinstate international schedules between Australia and low-risk countries, including Singapore, the US, Japan, the UK, Canada and Fiji.

The flag carrier noted that non-stop flights between Australia and London are likely to “be in even higher demand” following the COVID pandemic and could see Darwin as a new key transit point between Australia and Europe.

Qantas has posted an underlying loss before tax of $1.83 billion, due to “diabolical” operating conditions and sudden border closures in the second half of the financial year.

The union suggested that the government taking an equity stake in the national flag carrier could “guarantee aviation jobs and protect taxpayer money”, as it fears ongoing lockdowns could see the airline continue to bleed cash and put workers in jeopardy.

VH-OQB is one of just two of Qantas’ superjumbos that were grounded at a purpose-built A380 hangar at LAX, rather than stored at the Victorville ‘boneyard’ in the California Desert. 

From 12pm on Wednesday, the state government will tighten the rules to allow people to cross the border in Queensland, in order to ease the pressure on its “overwhelmed” hotel quarantine system.