Mar 7, 2008
Travel to Australia is about to boom; keep checking the websites of Qantas, Air New Zealand -- and, especially, V Australia
In an historic "Open Skies" treaty signed on February 15 by the U.S. and Australia, air traffic between the two countries has been totally deregulated. Starting now, any airline can fly between the two countries, using any airport in either country, and operating as many flights as they wish. And, as you'd expect, the flamboyant British tycoon Richard Branson will be the first to take advantage of those opportunities with a new airline called V Australia (www.vaustralia.com), for which he is buying six Boeing 777s. Service between the U.S. and Australia on V Australia will begin later this year, when an unholy price war will break out.
That enhanced competition is already evident between Qantas (the Australian flag carrier) and Air New Zealand (which also flies to Australia from the U.S.). Starting now, Qantas has matched the stunning $898 round-trip fare that Air New Zealand recently announced between Los Angeles/San Francisco and Auckland for the months of May and August. During the same months, Qantas has lowered the round-trip airfare between LosAngeles/San Francisco and Sydney, Australia, to $998 in May and August. (All fares must be purchased prior to March 31, and all tickets must be purchased on the internet and not by phone.)
In the meantime, for immediate use, Qantas (www.qantas.com.au) is selling its "Aussie AirPass" at $1,099, giving you round-trip air to Australia from the U.S. west coast and three flights within the country, for departures from now through June.
If you have any interest in finally attempting a trip to Australia, you'd be wise to periodically check the websites of all three airlines -- and especially the new website of V Australia. Obviously, the new airline will be starting operations with a stunning promotional fare, and you'll want to be among the first to snare it.
Write and read comments about this post.
That enhanced competition is already evident between Qantas (the Australian flag carrier) and Air New Zealand (which also flies to Australia from the U.S.). Starting now, Qantas has matched the stunning $898 round-trip fare that Air New Zealand recently announced between Los Angeles/San Francisco and Auckland for the months of May and August. During the same months, Qantas has lowered the round-trip airfare between LosAngeles/San Francisco and Sydney, Australia, to $998 in May and August. (All fares must be purchased prior to March 31, and all tickets must be purchased on the internet and not by phone.)
In the meantime, for immediate use, Qantas (www.qantas.com.au) is selling its "Aussie AirPass" at $1,099, giving you round-trip air to Australia from the U.S. west coast and three flights within the country, for departures from now through June.
If you have any interest in finally attempting a trip to Australia, you'd be wise to periodically check the websites of all three airlines -- and especially the new website of V Australia. Obviously, the new airline will be starting operations with a stunning promotional fare, and you'll want to be among the first to snare it.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: australia, deals, new zealand
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
