Australian carrier Qantas announced plans to resume international flights from July 1 and are open for bookings, however this depends on the country’s borders reopening.
The airline has been operating repatriation flights, but commercial flights have been grounded for months.
The airline said its decision to reopen bookings is based on the expectation that Australia’s borders will be open by that time, however Government responded sharply to the airline’s statement.
Qantas will only resume international flights in July if the country’s borders are open.
‘International borders will be opened when international arrivals do not pose a risk to Australians,’ Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said, according to 9News. ‘Decisions about when international travel resumes will be made by the Australian Government.’
He added that the country’s first priority in terms of international travel is creating bubbles with neighbouring countries like New Zealand.
‘The Australian Government is working on travel arrangements with countries, such as New Zealand, that have low community infections,’ he said.
Qantas said it will monitor the pandemic worldwide. ‘We continue to review and update our international schedule in response to the developing COVID-19 situation,’ the airline said.
Picture: Getaway gallery
