Qantas extends Norfolk Island flights from Sydney, Brisbane

Qantas' flights from Sydney and Brisbane to Norfolk Island will continue until at least August 29 2021, rather than winding down in June as initially planned.

These temporary routes for Qantas – which took off in March, as a short-term replacement for AirNZ – see six return flights per week running from the Australian mainland.

"Air New Zealand remains the long-term underwritten supplier of air services to Norfolk Island," explains Eric Hutchinson, Administrator of Norfolk Island.

"However, the current impacts of COVID-19 on Air New Zealand’s crewing arrangements and service delivery, mean that the extension of the current arrangement with Qantas is necessary to ensure the continuity of air services to Norfolk Island."

As an external territory of Australia, travel to Norfolk Island isn't subject to Australia's broad international 'travel ban', despite its location 2-2.5 hours east of the continent.

Nonetheless, flights operate from the international terminals in Sydney and Brisbane.

This opens the door to Sydney's Qantas First Lounge for all lounge-eligible travellers right now, spanning business class guests, along with Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman's Lounge cardholders, as well as Qantas Club members.

Like the flights themselves, this is a temporary measure while Qantas' international business class lounge remains closed in Sydney – while up in Brisbane (where there's no First Lounge), the go-to lounge is the catch-all business class space.

Passports are not required for travel to Norfolk Island, 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,” Qantas Domestic & International CEO Andrew David said previously.

“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 scheduled as below:

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

Just be mindful that as Norfolk Island isn’t a destination normally served by Qantas, the airline has no lounge available prior to the return sector departing Norfolk Island.

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 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

The initial launch of Qantas’ Norfolk Island flights followed several ad-hoc repatriation flights made to the Island, due to Air New Zealand’s initial 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 then been paused due to Queensland Government restrictions on New Zealand arrivals, having a knock-on effect for Norfolk Island.

Air New Zealand flights between Brisbane and Auckland have since resumed.

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

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.