Qantas prepared to go full throttle when travel restrictions are relaxed

QANTAS is planning ahead for an easing of travel restrictions as soon as July, with masks for all passengers to be rolled out within weeks.

The airline will introduce a raft of measures from June 12 to boost confidence about flying during the coronavirus pandemic, including handing out masks and sanitising wipes for passengers, along with increased cleaning. Service and catering will also be simplified to minimise contact with flight attendants and passengers will be asked to limit movement around the cabin.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce said the airline was preparing for the resumption of domestic travel within the next few months, also using some temporary measures already in use including on repatriation flights from virus hot spots.

“There is a possibility that we might have nearly all the states opening up as early as July and we’re planning for that,” Mr Joyce said.

“We have the ability to put a large amount of our capacity back into the air dependent on plans, and we’re giving people certainty about what the process would look like and their health and wellbeing.”

Qantas medical director Ian Hosegood said social distancing was not practical on aircraft and unnecessary given the low transmission risk.

“The data shows that actual risk of catching coronavirus on an aircraft is already extremely low,” Dr Hosegood said. “That’s due to a combination of factors, including the cabin air filtration system, the fact people don’t sit face-to-face and the high backs of seats.”