Qantas to suspend international flights from late March

Australia's national airline Qantas plans to suspend all international flights from the end of March in response to the travel restrictions imposed by the Australian government to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Qantas yesterday had already announced cuts to 90pc of international flights and about 60pc of its domestic services. With Canberra now recommending against all overseas travel from Australia, regularly scheduled international flights will continue until late March to assist with repatriation and will then be suspended until at least the end of May, Qantas said. Essential domestic, regional and freight connections will be maintained as much as possible, it said.

Qantas and its budget affiliate Jetstar will stand down the majority of their 30,000 employees until at least the end of May.

Virgin Australia yesterday suspended all international flights from 30 March to 14 June.

Qantas gave no update on its forecast fuel costs for the 2019-20 fiscal year to 30 June following the latest cuts. Qantas on 10 March said the sharp fall in oil prices and the knock-on effect on jet fuel prices, as well as lower consumption, would result in total fuel costs of A$3.74bn ($2.09bn) in 2019-20 against its A$3.85bn projection made on 20 February

By Kevin Morrison