Qantas has responded to pent-up demand for international travel announcing that its Sydney to Vancouver flights will now run all year long.
According to the schedule, the Qantas Sydney – Vancouver flights will start on December 18.
Up until 2020, Qantas ran the Vancouver flights as a seasonal service catering to Christmas and ski season demand.
Qantas will operate the 15-hour flights with a Boeing 787-9. The flights will have a fully lie-flat bed in business class and a 1-2-1 seating layout which gives direct access to the aisle.
Demand increases
Currently, anyone looking to leave Australia must apply for an exemption to travel. However, under the “roadmap to freedom”, Australia will open up to international travel once 80 per cent of Australians aged 16 and above have had two doses of COVID-19 vaccination. Single states, such as New South Wales, will allow international travel as soon as they hit the 80 per cent mark, even if other states lag behind.
NSW hit 80 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated with one dose earlier this week. It is expected to hit the double dose mark within six weeks – which should be in early December.
That has many Australians dreaming of a Christmas or new year getaway.
On Monday Qantas said international travel searches on its website had tripled in the past week. Vancouver was one of the top destinations, alongside London.
Not just Qantas
Earlier this week Air Canada also announced plans to resume Sydney to Vancouver flights on December 17. It is expected to operate four Boeing 777 flights per week.
As with Qantas, this aircraft has lie-flat beds and a 1-2-1 configuration.
Air Canada said its schedule “may be adjusted as required based on the Covid-19 trajectory and government restrictions.”
Do you need to quarantine in Canada?
Canada opened its border to fully vaccinated travellers in September.
It is important to note the North American nation will only accept passengers who have had a vaccine recognised by the Canadian government. This includes AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
Australians will not need to quarantine, but they will need to provide proof of negative COVID tests at several points only their journey.
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