Aircraft
Qantas Hopes to Restart International Service by Year-end
The ability for Australia’s flag carrier to reinstate international service hinges on Australia’s ability reach an 80 percent vaccination rate threshold.
Qantas plans to deploy some of its Airbus A330s on transpacific routes such as Brisbane-Los Angeles. (Photo: Qantas)
Qantas plans to deploy some of its Airbus A330s on transpacific routes such as Brisbane-Los Angeles. (Photo: Qantas)

An 80 percent vaccination rate among Australia’s citizens would trigger what Qantas calls a gradual reopening of international borders and allow for the airline’s reintroduction of service to markets with relatively high and increasing vaccination rates by December, the airline said Thursday. Australia’s vaccination rate now stands at 25.5 percent but recent trends have raised the confidence of government officials that the country will reach 80 percent by the end of the year.