Qatar Airways charging $12,000 for flight from Doha to Sydney as COVID-19 cap bites

Airlines are now charging up to $12,000 for a flight to Australia after strict new rules limiting 30 passengers to a flight were imposed leading one carrier to suspend online sales

  • International airlines are charging as much as $12,000 for a ticket to Australia
  • Price comes as Australia sets a cap of 4,000 passengers a week into country
  • Sydney International Airport will cap passenger flights to 30 from this Monday
  • Singapore Airlines suspended sales on flights that have already hit the limit 

One airline is charging up to to $12,000 for a plane ticket to Australia after the country puts a cap on international arrivals.  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced only 4,000 passengers would be allowed into the country per week from July 13.

The measure was introduced to reduce strain on Australia’s beleaguered hotel quarantine system.

New South Wales’ bill for accommodating return travellers during the pandemic has already exceeded $50million.

International airlines have been forced to reduce the number of passengers on flights to as low as 30 while others have suspended online sales and raised ticket prices, Australian Financial Review reported.

One airline is charging up to to $12,000 for a plane ticket to Australia after the country puts a cap on international arrivals (pictured is a passenger waiting to board a flight at Sydney Airport)

Prime minister Scott Morrison announced only 4,000 passengers would be allowed into the country per week from July 13 (pictured are two women wearing masks at Sydney Airport)

Prime minister Scott Morrison announced only 4,000 passengers would be allowed into the country per week from July 13 (pictured are two women wearing masks at Sydney Airport)

Qatar Airways is charging business class passengers $12,000 for flights from Doha to Sydney.

Available economy seats are hard to come by until mid August with prices set between $2,500 and $3,000.

Singapore Airlines has also suspended online sales of flights that have already reached their limit and are only flying two aircrafts into the country.

Sydney International Airport has announced it will slash its 50 passenger cap to 30 from Monday onwards, which will bring it on par with the limit imposed at Brisbane Airport.

Melbourne is accepting no flights as the city endures a six-week long stage three lockdown to battle a killer second wave. Perth will accept 50 passengers per flight.

Adelaide has a slightly higher cap at 150 passengers while Canberra is accepting 250 passengers. 

Australians have said the cap is wreaking havoc on their attempts to secure flights as airlines prioritise business class passengers. 

Jim Collins said he and his wife Cathy, from Tasmania, had been trying to get home from the UK since March, and thought he had finally found a way when he was re-booked onto a flight to Sydney last week.

However the airline he booked with cleared his family off the flight before he learned they were favouring business class passengers to cut capacity down to the 50-passenger limit.

‘As best as I know, all economy passengers were cleared off the flight to make room, with a 50-person limit for premium passengers only — first class and business class,’ Mr Collins told 7.30.

Melbourne is accepting no flights as the city endures a six-week long stage three lockdown to battle a killer second wave

Melbourne is accepting no flights as the city endures a six-week long stage three lockdown to battle a killer second wave 

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