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Major international airports
Major international airports are at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane,
Perth and Darwin, however facilities for international flights
also exist at Cairns. Even though we're 'down under...' Australia
is not as far as you think. From the West Coast of North
America, flight times to Sydney are equivalent to flights
to Rome or Hong Kong... It's only a couple of meals, a movie
and an in-flight nap.
Many airlines offer competitive fares to Australia on a
regular basis. You can fly direct or island hop across the
Pacific to a number of international gateways... with Sydney,
Melbourne and Brisbane being the most popular... Adelaide,
Perth, Darwin, Cairns and Hobart also have international
terminals.
Peak times for airfares are in the summer months - between
November and January - and especially around Christmas. If
you are planning a summer trip, book well in advance.
Customs and immigration queues are generally short. The
departure and arrival areas include several fine restaurants
and bars.
A departure tax of AUD$38 is charged on leaving the country
but it is usually incorporated into your airline ticket.
If in doubt, ask at the information desk.
For the latest flight information, check out the information
below about flights in your area.
Airlines into Australia
Airlines travelling from other countries into Australia
include:
- Daily nonstop service from Los Angeles to Sydney and
melbourne, and direct to Brisbane
- Weekly direct services ex New York and Canada. Connecting
flights across Australia
- The Boomerang Pass offers flexible, discounted flights
from the Benelux to Australia and on the way explore New
Zealand and the South West Pacific.
Schedule & prices: www.qantasusa.com or
1800 227 4500
- Daily nonstop services from Los Angeles and San Francisco
to Sydney with continuing service to Melbourne
Schedules & prices: www.ual.com or
1800 241 6522
- Hawaiian Airlines fly four times weekly
- Departing Honolulu on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and
Saturday.
- Return flight departs Sydney on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday,
and Friday.
- Roundtrip airfares are available from six West Coast
cities (Seattle, Portland San Francisco, Sacramento, Los
Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix) connection in
Honolulu.
Schedules & prices: www.hawaiianair.com or
1800 367 5320
- Daily services from Los Angeles to Sydney (via Auckland)
and Los Angeles to Brisbane (via Auckland).
- Codeshare services from across the USA and major Canadian
cities.
Schedules & prices: www.airnewzealand.com or
1800 262 2468
- Daily services from Europe
Schedules & prices: www.britishairways.com
- Offering daily flights to Dubai from Sydney, Perth, Melbourne
and Brisbane.
Schedules & prices: www.emirates.com or
1300 303 777
- Offering daily flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane,
Adelaide and Perth.
Schedules & prices: www.singaporeair.com or
131011
- Offers daily flights from Asia and Europe to Sydney,
Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.
Schedules & prices: www.thaiairways.com
- Offers direct flights from Hong Kong to Adelaide, Brisbane,
Cairns, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney
Schedules & prices: www.cathaypacific.com or
131 747
- Offers direct flights from Vienna to Melbourne and Sydney
Schedules & prices: www.aua.com or
1800 642 438
Between Cities
Traditionally, buses have been the cheapest transport options,
trains more expensive (generally more comfortable than buses
and taking about the same amount of time) with planes the
most expensive, but of course the fastest.
However, airline competition has increased in the last few
years, and consequently the cheapest prices for flying are
often not much more than the cost of a bus ticket. But note
that the cheapest air tickets are generally non-refundable,
non-changeable, so you need to be absolutely certain of when
and where you intend to fly.
Those on a budget should factor in the costs of getting
to/from airports, which are often on city outskirts, and
may not be accessible by regular public transport. By contrast,
buses and trains usually service the city centres.
Major airlines flying within Australia
The following domestic airlines service Australia.
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