Australian national flag carrier Qantas is set to resume Airbus A330 flights between Sydney and the capital of India, Delhi, for the first time in nearly a decade.
Qantas has a strong presence in New Zealand, and with a robust trans-tasman schedule of flights, the kiwi Indian community is hopeful of a seamless connection.
In 2019 Auckland Airport released numbers whereby nearly 400 passengers travelled per day, each way, between India and New Zealand.
In a statement, the Sydney-based carrier says, starting December 6, 2021, it will offer three non-stop weekly flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
Qantas will deploy one of its 28 Airbus A330 aircraft on the nearly 6,500-mile route.
Qantas further stated that pending approval by the Indian authorities, it would like to offer daily flights between the two cities by the end of the year.
Flights between Sydney and Delhi will stop at Darwin International Airport (DRW) in the Northern Territory, while flights in the opposite direction will be non-stop.
These flights would initially operate until at least late March 2022, with a view to continuing if there is sufficient demand, it added.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said, “Given the strong ties between Australia and India, flights between Sydney and Delhi have been on our radar for some time, and we think there will be strong demand from family and friends wanting to reconnect once borders open."
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had earlier this month announced that an 18-month ban on Australians travelling abroad will be lifted from November 1.
Australia has also announced that it will open to the world from 1st of December and has abolished most of the requirments for managed isolation and quarantine.
With an allegedly confusing, traffic light system, the New Zealand government has also come with a roadmap of opening their economy, by ending the lockdonws, but has stopped short of detailing any plan around removing border restrictions and MIQ.