Qantas and Jetstar Extend Flight Cancellations

Qantas and Jetstar have extended their domestic and Trans-Tasman flight cancellations to the end of June 2020, whilst international flight cancellations have been extended through to end-July 2020.

The Qantas Group is currently operating around 5% of its pre-COVID19 domestic passenger network and around 1% of its international network on an Available Seat Kilometre basis.

On a flying hours basis, which includes charters for the resources sector at 75% of pre-COVID19 levels and passenger aircraft flying as freighters, the Group is operating 13% of its domestic network and 6% of international.

The initial easing of government restrictions suggests some domestic travel may start to return before the end of July – though the airline admits that demand levels are hard to predict.

The current stand down of employees has also been extended until at least the end of June.

Qantas has said that customers with bookings impacted by these latest cancellations for June and July will be contacted directly and offered alternatives.

Customers with bookings made through travel agents or third party websites will need to contact them directly.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said, “Our ability to withstand this crisis and its aftermath is only possible because we’re tapping into a balance sheet that has taken years to build. Australia has done an amazing job of flattening the curve and we’re optimistic that domestic travel will start returning earlier than first thought, but we clearly won’t be back to pre-coronavirus levels anytime soon. With the possible exception of New Zealand, international travel demand could take years to return to what it was.”

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