henrus
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Interestingly Qantas will "temporarily" launch a new route as they operate some flights to/from Norfolk Island starting tomorrow.
As reported in the ABC, Air New Zealand has been "unable" to operate these flights because they don't have the aircraft/crew in Australia. The Norfolk Island flights used the same aircraft/crew that operated the one-way travel bubble flights however as they've been suspended so have the Norfolk Island flights. Air New Zealand claims the crew needs to spend 14 days in quarantine to operate these domestic flights although I find that hard to believe given they were operating BNE/SYD-NLK before the travel bubble started with no issues.
All this means that Qantas will now operate flights to/from Norfolk Island for the next few days:
QF183 Brisbane to Norfolk Island - 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 2 Feb and 3 Feb
QF184 Norfolk Island to Brisbane - 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 2 Feb and 3 Feb
QF179 Sydney to Norfolk Island - 31 Jan
QF180 Norfolk to Sydney - 31 Jan
Apparently, those booked on Air New Zealand flights are being offered a refund, credit, or a seat on one of the above Qantas flights. Qantas is also selling tickets albeit only flexible economy fares (no business class or award seats) starting at $528 but you can use points plus pay starting at 81,400 points. I believe Qantas may have done a route proving flight from Brisbane to Norfolk Island late last year and from what I can find online the Air New Zealand contract expires sometime this year, so perhaps we could see more Qantas flights to Norfolk Island in the near future.
Finally, I have a question that someone may be able to answer - Why the taxes differ so much between the two airlines? Ignoring Qantas' YR surcharge, they seem to be $26.48 cheaper thanks to a slightly different WY but a massively different WG tax.
As reported in the ABC, Air New Zealand has been "unable" to operate these flights because they don't have the aircraft/crew in Australia. The Norfolk Island flights used the same aircraft/crew that operated the one-way travel bubble flights however as they've been suspended so have the Norfolk Island flights. Air New Zealand claims the crew needs to spend 14 days in quarantine to operate these domestic flights although I find that hard to believe given they were operating BNE/SYD-NLK before the travel bubble started with no issues.
All this means that Qantas will now operate flights to/from Norfolk Island for the next few days:
QF183 Brisbane to Norfolk Island - 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 2 Feb and 3 Feb
QF184 Norfolk Island to Brisbane - 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 2 Feb and 3 Feb
QF179 Sydney to Norfolk Island - 31 Jan
QF180 Norfolk to Sydney - 31 Jan
Apparently, those booked on Air New Zealand flights are being offered a refund, credit, or a seat on one of the above Qantas flights. Qantas is also selling tickets albeit only flexible economy fares (no business class or award seats) starting at $528 but you can use points plus pay starting at 81,400 points. I believe Qantas may have done a route proving flight from Brisbane to Norfolk Island late last year and from what I can find online the Air New Zealand contract expires sometime this year, so perhaps we could see more Qantas flights to Norfolk Island in the near future.
Finally, I have a question that someone may be able to answer - Why the taxes differ so much between the two airlines? Ignoring Qantas' YR surcharge, they seem to be $26.48 cheaper thanks to a slightly different WY but a massively different WG tax.