australia

Tag Archives for australia.

American Airlines Pulling Out Of Australia, At Least Until End Of October

by Gary Leff on July 19, 2021

Jul 19 2021

With Australia reducing the number of international passengers allowed to enter the country each day in half, American is running many of its Los Angeles – Sydney flights as cargo-only until August 31, while the return Sydney – Los Angeles flight carriers both cargo and passengers. On days where American has an allocation of allowed passenger arrivals, they’re carrying passengers to Australia.

After this period American Airlines will exit the Australian passenger market for two months, although of course this suspension of service could be extended based on facts on the ground in Australia.

[Update: Some Of] American’s Sydney Flights Will Become One-Way Only Starting July 12

by Gary Leff on July 9, 2021

Jul 09 2021

Only 215 people per day are allowed to enter Sydney, Australia from overseas between July 14 and August 31.
As a result American Airlines will stop operating a passenger flight Los Angeles to Sydney starting July 12th (arriving the morning of July 14). They will, however, continue flying Sydney – Los Angeles.

Australia’s Covid Plan Could Keep Borders Closed To Visitors Until 2024

by Gary Leff on July 2, 2021

Jul 02 2021

Australia, like several island nations, won the first phase of the pandemic. They managed to contain the virus through strict lockdowns and border restrictions, and for much of the last year and a half life has been relatively normal. Now they’re losing the long phase, and the nation’s Prime Minister laid out a re-opening plan that could stretch years. I do not expect it to take nearly as long.

Australian Borders Could Stay Closed Through Most Of 2022

by Gary Leff on May 6, 2021

May 06 2021

Australia won the first round of the pandemic, but appears to be losing overall.

A Five Hour Delay Caused A Flight Full Of Passengers Into 14 Day Mandatory Quarantine

by Gary Leff on April 26, 2021

Apr 26 2021

A delay of a little more than 5 hours caused a planeload full of passengers to be sent into 14 day mandatory hotel quarantine when they reached their destination.

Virgin Australia flight VA469 had departed from Perth, in Western Australia, enroute to Brisbane. But while the plane was in the air, the Australian state of Queensland where Brisbane is located closed its borders to incoming Perth traffic.

Why There’s So Much More Travel Demand On The Australian Side Of The Trans-Tasman Bubble

by Gary Leff on April 20, 2021

Apr 20 2021

Australia and New Zealand have launched a ‘travel bubble.’ That means citizens of either country are permitted to travel to the other, and then return home without a government-enforced quarantine. There is three times as much travel going from Australia to New Zealand as there is the other way around.

A reader asks why this is considered “lopsided” in media reports when there are 5 times as many people in Australia as there are in New Zealand?

Man Shipped Himself From Australia To LA In A Box. Now He’s Hoping To Make A Documentary

by Gary Leff on April 17, 2021

Apr 17 2021

Fifty six years ago, when he was 20 years old, Brian Robson decided to ship himself from Australia to London as cargo. So he got two friends to help nail him into a shipping crate. He made it as far as Los Angeles and lived, and was given a free trip onward to London as a passenger.

Australia Says They Might Not Open Borders Even After Vaccinating Everyone

by Gary Leff on April 14, 2021

Apr 14 2021

Australia has jettisoned its vaccination goals, fearful of clotting risks of the AstraZeneca shot, and now says they could keep borders closed even after everyone in the country has eventually been vaccinated. Their risk-reward calculus is different than most of the world’s, and having kept Covid-19 largely under control they’re desperately afraid of any misstep no matter the cost.

Qantas Pushes Back Restart Of International Flying To October 31

by Gary Leff on February 24, 2021

Feb 24 2021

The CEO of Qantas previously claimed his country would re-open to international travel July 1. He was wrong. The airline is pushing back the restart of international flights to October 31.

Their Airbus A380s won’t return to service until June 30, 2023 ‘at the earliest’ so international flights will all be operated by Airbus A330s and Boeing 787s. And they won’t take delivery of their next 3 Boeing 787s, either.

Australia Says They’ll Require Covid-19 Vaccination For Entry When Borders Re-Open

by Gary Leff on February 8, 2021

Feb 08 2021

The CEO of Qantas said Australia would re-open to visitors in July. The government said not so fast, without actually denying the claim. Now we know a little more about Australia’s re-opening plan.