Trans Tasman Travel Bubble
Trans Tasman Travel Bubble

Qantas To Operate Non-Stop Flight Between Europe and Australia

Qantas plan to reinvigorate their old routes throughout December, as part of the Australian Government’s efforts to repatriate thousands of citizens stranded in Europe.

Beginning in mid-December this latest round of repatriation flights will aim to bring home some of the 36,000 Australians, who have indicated that they want to return to Australia. Working in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Qantas will fly the returning travellers to Darwin, where they will undertake two weeks of mandatory quarantine.

Qantas Repatriation Flights
Australian consular officials farewell the departing Qantas B787 bringing Australians home

Flights are expected to sell out quickly, with priority going to the 8,070 classified by DFAT as vulnerable. The department will also control who can book, with those who can be offered a seat being emailed a unique set of instructions for booking.

Economy seats on the Frankfurt flights will start at AU$2095 ($1546/€1297) and Business Class on the Boeing 787 will cost AU$8679 ($6406/€5,372).

Qantas says that “the inflight entertainment system will be unavailable” so with these flights stretching to 24 hours from start to finish, passengers are advised to BYO reading material, moves and binge-worthy TV series.

Inbound RouteArrival Date in Australia
Frankfurt – Darwin13th December 2020
Chennai – Darwin15th December 2020
Paris – Darwin17th December 2020
London – Darwin30th December 2020
New Delhi – Darwin1st January 2021
Frankfurt – Darwin3rd January 2021
London – Darwin16th January 2021
New Delhi – Darwin18th January 2021
New Delhi – Darwin20th February 2021
Provided by Qantas. Flights may change.

Additionally, Qantas will carry passengers outbound from Australia wishing to return home. These can be booked normally, with departing foreign passengers not needing a permit to leave. However, Australian citizens and permanent residents are barred from leaving and require a permit.

Outbound RouteDeparture Date
Sydney – Frankfurt9th December 2020
Sydney – Paris13th December 2020
Sydney – Perth – London26th December 2020
Sydney – Perth – London12th January 2021

“I’d like to thank not only the crew who are volunteering to operate on these services, but the many people behind the scenes who make sure these flights happen; particularly to cities where we don’t typically operate to.”

Alan Joyce, CEO, Qantas