Sydney Airport as Australia reacts to the new coronaviruses Omicron variant in Sydney Airport
SYDNEY Reuters -- Qantas Airways Ltd plans to reach more than 115% of pre-COVID domestic capacity levels by April, as Australian state borders open, Chief Executive Alan Joyce said on Tuesday.
He said at the CAPA Centre that the huge demand is coming from domestically when borders are open. In the Queensland market, we have seen a surge in 24 hours. Queensland brought forward the opening of its domestic borders to Dec. 13, from a previous estimate of Dec. 17.
By April, Jetstar should reach 120% of pre-COVID domestic capacity, while the premium Qantas brand should reach 115%, Joyce said.
He said the airline was on track to decide on a preferred supplier for more than 100 planes to replace its old domestic fleet by the end of the year.
It will take a long time to recover to pre-COVID levels in the international market, though Qantas plans to bring back some of its A 380 superjumbo planes for flights from Sydney to London and New York in July.
Joyce said that although there was some decline in international business travel, his airline relied on leisure travellers for 60% of premium revenue, large companies for 20% and small and medium businesses for 20%.