Qantas (ASX:QAN) adds 360 flights a week

The airline's shares soared Tuesday after the Queensland border was opened to NSW, with a decision on Victoria pending.

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Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) has wasted no time ramping up its operations after Queensland announced a reopening of its border.

The Queensland Government revealed Tuesday it would allow travellers from NSW to enter without a mandatory COVID-19 14-day quarantine period from Tuesday 1 December.

Qantas and its budget brand Jetstar then announced 207 return flights per week between NSW and Queensland would be added from that day. Another 153 would be added between Victoria and Queensland if that border is also reopened.

"This is news that many families have been waiting so long to hear," said Qantas chief Alan Joyce.

"New South Wales and Victoria have done such a great job getting the virus under control that it makes complete sense to open the borders to Sydney and Melbourne."

Currently there are just 36 flights operating out of Sydney into Queensland and 4 from Newcastle. Just 2 weekly flights run between Melbourne and Townsville as the only route between the two states.

The additional Queensland flights are another step in the airline's comeback from coronavirus hibernation. Only on Monday Qantas started a further 272 weekly flights between NSW and Victoria as soon as that border was reopened.

Has Qantas found a way out of hibernation?

The new flights will mean by Christmas the airline's domestic operations will be back to 60% of pre-COVID levels. Early next month, 30 of the 35 domestic airport lounges will also have reopened.

The market was pleased for Qantas, pushing its shares up 3.54% to trade at $5.56 as of 2.09 pm AEDT.

Joyce said there is already massive demand for travel to Queensland.

"We can't wait to see a repeat of the heart-warming scenes in Melbourne and Sydney this week with families reuniting after months apart, this time in Queensland," he said.

"Queenslanders can expect to welcome a lot more visitors in the next few months."

Airline Route Weekly return flights from 1 Dec Lead-in one-way fare
Qantas Sydney-Brisbane 63 $199
Jetstar Sydney-Brisbane 44 $85
Qantas Sydney-Gold Coast 8 $153
Jetstar Sydney-Gold Coast 64 $69
Qantas Sydney-Hamilton Island 4 $233
Jetstar Sydney-Hamilton Island 7 $129
Qantas Sydney-Cairns 7 $236
Jetstar Sydney-Cairns 24 $144
Jetstar Sydney-Sunshine Coast 12 $79
Jetstar Sydney-Townsville 7 $124
Jetstar Newcastle-Gold Coast 4 $61
Jetstar Sydney-Proserpine 3 $146
Jetstar Melbourne-Proserpine 4 $146
Qantas Melbourne-Brisbane 28 $225
Jetstar Melbourne-Brisbane 35 $122
Qantas Melbourne-Gold Coast 7 $192
Jetstar Melbourne-Gold Coast 44 $114
Qantas Melbourne-Cairns 4 $287
Qantas Melbourne-Sunshine Coast 7 $199
Jetstar Melbourne-Sunshine Coast 15 $113
Jetstar Melbourne-Townsville 7 $125
Jetstar Melbourne Avalon-Gold Coast 4 $99
Source: Qantas; Table created by author

The country now needs the certainty of interstate borders remaining open, said the aviation chief, and trust testing and contact tracing systems for any spot outbreaks.

"We renew our calls for a consistent set of rules that apply nationwide to prevent hasty, patchwork decisions on borders being made."

International flights are still a way off, although the early success of 3 COVID vaccines has given the aviation industry hope.

On Monday, Joyce told a television show that Qantas would make vaccination compulsory for overseas flights.

"Talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the globe, I think it's going to be a common theme," he said.

"What we're looking at is how you can have a vaccination passport, an electronic version of it, that certifies what the vaccine is. Is it acceptable to the country that you're travelling to?"

Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo owns shares of Qantas Airways Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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