Qantas launches Norfolk Island flights from Sydney, Brisbane

Qantas will operate regular flights from both Sydney and Brisbane to Norfolk Island over the coming months, giving travellers the chance to fly ‘overseas’, yet without the burden of border restrictions or hotel quarantine.

From March 19 2021, the airline will run three flights per week from Sydney as well as three flights each week from Brisbane, “initially” for a three-month period: hinting there could be an extension.

Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia, around 2-2.5 hours east of the mainland.

That puts these flights outside the purview of Australia’s international ‘travel ban’ – although the services will depart from (and arrive back into) the international terminals at Sydney and Brisbane.

Even so, passports are not required, with an Australian driver’s licence or proof of age card sufficient ID: although passports are “preferred” by the Australian Government, to help expedite passenger processing at each end.

“With international borders closed, we know Australians are looking for new holiday experiences and Norfolk Island is a destination that has so much to offer,” said Qantas Domestic & International CEO Andrew David.

“We’ll be promoting these new flights to millions of our frequent flyers across the country – with seamless connections from our large domestic network through Sydney or Brisbane – who will have the opportunity to earn and redeem points on flights to Norfolk Island.”

As Norfolk Island has not been declared a 'hotspot' by New South Wales or Queensland, there are no restrictions on entering these states from Norfolk Island, and thus, no compulsory quarantine.

Qantas Norfolk Island flight schedules, price

With one-way fares in economy starting at $412 from Sydney or $390 from Brisbane, flights are now on sale as below:

These routes will all be served by Qantas’ Boeing 737 jets, offering both business class and economy.

However, business class passengers – as well as eligible frequent flyers – will need to make do without access to the Qantas international lounges in Sydney or Brisbane, as these remain closed for now.

“There are no plans to open the international terminal lounges at this time,” a Qantas spokesperson confirmed to Executive Traveller today.

As Norfolk Island isn’t a destination normally served by Qantas, the airline has no lounge available there either: although passengers taking domestic connections to or from these flights will enjoy lounge access as usual prior to those domestic services.

For example, an eligible traveller flying from Melbourne to Sydney and onwards to Norfolk Island would still receive lounge access in Melbourne before the Sydney-bound leg, and vice versa.

Passengers booking using frequent flyer points can expect to part with 55,200 Qantas Points for a return business class ticket, or 24,000 Qantas Points for a return economy ticket from either city.

Taxes, fess and carrier charges are payable on those reward bookings, totalling $250 return from Sydney, or $221 return from Brisbane, in addition to the points required.

Duty-free shopping for Norfolk Island travellers

A less-publicised perk of travelling from Norfolk Island is that passengers can make use of the ‘international’ tax-free shopping allowances and duty-free alcohol privileges on their return to the Australian mainland.

This is distinctly different from other Australian 'domestic' routes operating through international terminals, where an orange 'D sticker' is appended to the boarding pass, and duty-free shopping is barred.

That means each adult traveller can carry:

• Up to $900 of GST-free shopping, plus
• Up to 2.25 litres of duty-free alcohol, plus
• Up to 25 grams of tobacco, plus an open packet

As well, that $900 allowance can cover general goods purchased on Norfolk Island, or items bought on the Australian mainland prior to travel for which a TRS GST refund claim has been made, which can be lodged upon departure from Sydney or Brisbane.

Read: Seven easy ways to speed through your TRS airport GST refunds

Qantas’ news follows several ad-hoc repatriation flights it has made to Norfolk Island in recent weeks due to Air New Zealand’s suspension of its own Brisbane-Norfolk Island route.

The Kiwi carrier normally operates this domestic service using a plane and crew that arrives into Brisbane from Auckland.

However, those Auckland-Brisbane flights had been paused due to Queensland Government restrictions on New Zealand arrivals, having a knock-on effect for Norfolk Island.

Also read: Gov't to subsidise half-price Qantas, Virgin holiday flights

Chris Chamberlin

Chris Chamberlin is the Associate Editor of Executive Traveller, and lives by the motto that a journey of a thousand miles begins not just with a single step, but also a strong latte, a theatre ticket, and later in the day, a good gin and tonic.