Qantas is hoping to resume international flights by as early as July. This comes after the airline announced last year that no flights would operate on the South Africa, UK and US routes until late October 2021.

Qantas Regional Manager Africa, Michi Messner, told Tourism Update that while the airline intended to resume its services out of South Africa in July, this was dependent on a number of factors.

Messner said the airline was ‘cautiously optimistic’ but the situation was fluid. She explained that the resumption of international flights was also dependent on Australia reopening borders, while South Africa’s vaccine roll-out could also be a determining factor.

Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, has stated that the airline would require passengers to be vaccinated before flying once a vaccine became available.