Qantas and Virgin Australia will operate a total of 13 flights per week, to bring stranded Australians home from coronavirus-stricken countries. The Australian Government has agreed to subsidise most, but not all, of the cost of the services during the coronavirus crisis. Passengers on-board will pay a given amount as mandated by the airline.
Qantas
The flights can only be booked through qantas.com. All passengers returning to Australia will be subject to two-weeks of supervised quarantine, like all other overseas arrivals. Australian citizens cannot depart Australia, only foreign nationals.
Customers will not be able to book into particular cabins, such as business or premium economy, with a set fare for everyone.
- London – Melbourne (via Perth)
- 10 return flights per week for the foreseeable future
- (NO disembarkation in Perth)
- $1500 AUD ($900 USD) per seat
- Los Angeles – Brisbane
- 1 return flight per week
- $1000 AUD ($600 USD) per seat
- Hong Kong – Melbourne
- 2 return flights per week
- $1000 AUD ($600 USD) per seat
- Hong Kong – Brisbane
- 2 return flights per week
- $1000 AUD ($600 USD) per seat
- Auckland – Melbourne
- 2 return flights per week
- $300-400 AUD ($180-240 USD) per seat
- Auckland – Brisbane
- 2 return flights per week
- $300-400 AUD ($180-240 USD) per seat
It is understood that none of the flights are going to Sydney, because the government wants to spread quarantine to other states.
Qantas will use their Boeing 787-9s to operate the services but because of a pause in licensing arrangements, by the airline to save money during the coronavirus crisis, seat-back in-flight entertainment screens will not be in operation.
A basic food and drink service will be provided and there will be no frequent flyer points or status credits applied for the flights.
“Qantas is proud to be operating repatriation flights for the Australian Government. Maintaining strategic air connections from Australia to hubs in the UK, US, Hong Kong and New Zealand will enable essential travel and freight to continue during this crisis,”
Qantas Group spokesman
Virgin Australia
- Los Angeles – Brisbane
- 1 return flight per week
- Price unknown
- Hong Kong – Brisbane
- 2 return flights per week
- Price unknown
“We are pleased to support the government in getting Australians home and maintain important freight links into the country.”
Virigin Australia spokeswoman
Under the deal with the government, Australian taxpayers will cover the cost of the outbound flights and any shortfall in the cost of operating the inbound flights.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the services would build on the $1 billion AUD ($601 million) in support the government had already committed to Australia’s aviation industry.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Marise Payne, said that constructive discussions were continuing, with Virgin Australia and Qantas, about other services to less accessible destinations, like South America and the Pacific Islands.
Just to reiterate, under current travel restrictions, Australian citizens (including dual-citizens with an Australian passport) CANNOT leave Australia.
Hi,
I am a critical care nurse (ICU)from Ireland. I have valid visa+ job offer+ travel exemption for my whole family to travel to Australia.I would like to know, if there is any seats available to book for my whole family includes 2 adult and 2 kids in October 12th week(any date in that week or rest of the month) to sydney/ melbourne.
many thanks,
Remia.
Best to contact Australian embassy and ask for their advice. Qatar, Emirates and Etihad are flying and connecting Europe with Australia via ME hubs.
hi my family is in the philippines we are all permanent residence here in australia,but sadly they cannot come here in australia because there flights always cancelled,the first entry of my family must be in september 23,2020 I’m worried because till now have’nt flight going here in australia.
Hi, we have returned to Australia but our dogs flight got cancelled. Do you know of any carriers taking pets from London to Melbourne
Thanks in advance
Hi Karen, you’d be best off consulting with the airline that was meant to be carrying your dogs. They should be able to assist.
Hi,
I’m currently in Thailand and am wondering if there will be any repartation flights to Sydney Australia from here in the near future. Thanks in a advance
Hi Vanessa, not quite sure at this stage. I suggest contacting a travel agent. They should be a help for your situation. It may be a case of you flying to Hong Kong to catch an Australian flight from there on either Qantas or Virgin Australia.
Alternatively, contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Thanks!
Are all the qantas flights from london to melbourne sold out?
Gday, just wondering what accommodation is when we get to Melbourne? Thanks again. Max.
Hi Max, your accomodation will be a government-supplied hotel (most likely Crown in Melbourne). You’ll be there for 14 days and won’t be able to leave your hotel room.
We are in lockdown in CEBU Philippines and waiting our time till about 10th May as we believe Singapore Airlines will fly again to Perth via Singapore Changi. Would that mean we have to stay in Singapore for a 14 day isolation period before we can catch our flight to Perth or is it possible like before stay in the transit area for the layover and catch the next flight out to Perth without isolation.
NZ and Aust personnel in Philippines will b a nightmare-!! 7000 islands here and our people are stranded on islands because of Lockdowns- no Internal Flights- no buses-no Ferries no transport -!!!! Manila is ok for those in Luzon- But then there are a huge No of Us scattered over this country with no way of getting to Manila or Cebu-!!- There are huge No who are locked out here in a southern island again Logistical issue — Php will hv flights May 1st to OZ but again we cant get to Manila, as domestic flights are uncertain of there future just now– Trivial info but we are just high lighting the Logistical nightmare of uplifting some and not all-!!(( that want evacuation))’
But how do you book the repatriation flights? I tried going onto the Quantas website and these flights are not given?
If you can’t specifically book the flights on qantas.com then contact the local Qantas office depending on where you are. Local contacts are listed on the website.
Thanks, Ted.
Hi we are in the philippines, along with hundreds or maybe thousands of other Aussies. How are we supposed to get to HK with no transit until further notice.I’m sure there are no Aussies left in H K that want to come home. Is this a money earner for Qantas to just fly cargo and also be paid by Aus Gov. I’m no Einstein but wouldn’t it make more sense to have these planes fly to Manila to get us home, if that is what the Gov want to do to HELP us. I’m sure Aussies in Thailand feel the same way. Let’s have some commonsense Aus Gov.
Hi John,
Sorry to hear about your situation in the Philippines and it is undoubtedly concerning.
At this point, you’d be best contacting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) via smartraveller.com and request consular assistance.
Alternatively, you can visit the Australian Embassy in Manila.
Philippine Airlines are planning to resume limited flights to Australia from May 1st, however, you should contact them directly if you want to book a ticket with them.
Thanks! Ted
I called Qantas and they confirmed that all the repatriation flights out of Hong Kong will only be able to transport Australian Citizens stranded in Hong Kong only, it is not the transit hub the government said it would be. I was given a full refund and they apologized stating that they know the flights will essentially run empty.
Bit of a waste of tax payers money, government just payed Qantas to run a one way cargo flight 4 times per week.
Thanks for sharing with us on this!
I am trying to look at repatriation flights in May but cannot access the relevant part of the Quantas. com website . Can you help or provide a phone number. Our dog has been offered a flight on the 6th May by the exporter but that isn’t any good if I cannot fly
Hi Kevin,
Just double-check you’ve searched qantas.com
Phone numbers will be different depending on where you are now.
I’m in UK and live in Perth WA. If I fly back to Melbourne after I have completed my 14 day isolation I won’t be able to get back to Perth because the border is closed also will passengers have any kind of testing before they get on the plane as everyone will be sitting close together ?
Hi Sue,
As an Australian, I believe you’ll do your Melbourne quarantine, and provided you’re a WA resident, then you can fly there and do your two week home quarantine there.
Contact Qantas for clarification on your issue though
If its repatriation flight arranged for Australian in India than Indian in Australia may cary to India is possible?
Gday Ted,
Thank you. Will give them a call.
Max
Based on the booking page, QF look to be awarding both Status and Points, for their LHR-MEL flight. Unsure about the others.
Gday, thanks for the information. We are looking to get from London to Brisbane and then we can do our two weeks there. Then on to Townsville any ideas? Thanks Max
Hi Max,
You’d be best contacting Qantas, but from what we can tell, you’ll have to fly from London-Melbourne, do your quarantine in a Melbourne hotel, and then fly to Townsville and do another two weeks of Queensland government quarantine in your own home. Probably call Qantas’ UK number at 0800 964 432.
Thanks! Ted
What about Australians stuck in lockdown in India? London, HK, LAX (via SFO), and Auckland are already serviced by currently operating commercial flights.
Hi Aneale,
Interesting point you make – as an Australian, I would recommend contacting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) via smartraveller.com and request consular assistance
Hong Kong government has just updated to denied all non residents access to transit services indefinitely.
This means Hong Kong can no longer service any repatriation flights… whats the plan now?
Hi Daniel,
You’d be best off contacting Qantas for clarification, but the repatriation flights to HK will only carry people who meet HK entry guidelines. The flight back to Australia will carry Australian citizens only.
Thanks! Ted
This is so informative! Thank you for putting this together. Would you mind sharing the source for your information on the Qantas rescue flights?
Hi Claudia,
Thanks for your comment. We have used a variety of sources including direct media releases, the airline’s website and many more.
Thanks for your warm support!
I think you guys are doing a fantastic job keeping us all informed on the latest aviation news during this terrible crisis. Well done and congratulations to everybody involved!