International flights to Australia: Major airlines flying from key cities

There’s been some good news on the horizon for international students in Australia. Queensland, ACT, New South Wales and Victoria are among the states and territories that have announced plans for international students’ return. More importantly — what about international flights to Australia?

There’s no definitive timeline when international students can return to Australia in droves just yet, but the country is prioritising the return of its citizens, permanent residents and their family members before allowing non-citizens into the country. In light of this, many airlines are preparing for international travel for vaccinated citizens and residents in the country.

If you’re curious to know which flights from key destinations will be resuming international flights to Australia in preparation for the country’s border reopening to other groups of people, here’s what we know so far:

International flights to Australia could cost students a pretty penny. Source: Peter Parks/AFP

International flights to Australia

Major airlines including Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Emirates are among those who have announced international flights to Australia. On Twitter, the Etihad said, “We’re resuming flights from Abu Dhabi to Sydney by November 1, giving Australians overseas the opportunities to return home to visit their families and friends. Seats are limited.” Emirates also reportedly plan to resume operations to Australia by November 1.

Singapore Airlines said sales have opened for flights between Singapore and Sydney for eligible travellers. Flights between Singapore and Sydney have opened since October 16, 2021, while flights between Singapore and Melbourne for eligible customers from October 22, 2021, 5pm (Singapore time), it said.

Hawaiian Airlines recently announced that it would resume its non-stop service between Honolulu and Sydney on December 13, reported Lonely Planet. “We are thrilled to reconnect Hawaii and Australia and have been encouraged by the public’s response to Australia’s national vaccination programme, enabling the reopening of borders,” Andrew Stanbury, Hawaiian Airlines’ regional director for Australia and New Zealand was quoted saying.

Australia’s national carrier, Qantas Airways, said it will operate return flights between Sydney and London as well as return flights between Sydney and Los Angeles from November 14. It also announced services to Thailand, South Africa, Fiji, Singapore and India, said the report. A separate report said Qantas will also offer a new service to New Delhi on December 6. Cathay Pacific offers flights from Hong Kong to Sydney. 

International students planning for their potential return to Australia can forget the idea of getting cheap flights to Sydney for the rest of 2021. A one-way ticket from New Delhi to Sydney in the weeks after Christmas until the end of January — when Australia could potentially reopen its international borders to non-citizens — now costs up to US$3,541, according to an analysis of Google Flights. From Jan. 2, 2022, the price hovers around US$522 to US$545.

The highest-priced one-way ticket from Beijing to Sydney is nearly four times more, i.e. US$12,372, while a one-way ticket from Hanoi to Sydney is US$4,032.