Qantas launches huge return flight sale with tickets starting as low as $499 – but you better be quick

Qantas has launched a massive one-week sale with return flights to Vanuatu on offer for $500 and tickets to London for less than $2,000.

Australia’s national carrier said the ‘red tail deals’ to 14 different destinations were up for grabs until next Monday.

The cheapest offers start from $499 for return flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Vanuatu or Noumea.

There were more than 35 international routes on sale including return tickets from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to London from $1,749 and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide to Johannesburg in South Africa from $1,699.

The airline’s newest international route, Melbourne to Honolulu, starts at $999 with the first flight to take off on May 1.

The sales are available across economy and premium cabins, with business class return airfares from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Johannesburg starting from $6,899 and premium economy return fares from Sydney and Melbourne to London from $3,899.

All fares include checked baggage and are for various dates between May 11 and March 31, 2026.

The news follows Virgin Australia’s relaunching of long-haul flights from June, using wet-leased aircraft from Qatar Airways.

Return flights to Honolulu start at $999 

Aussies can get to Vanuatu or Noumea for $499 return

Virgin Australia’s partnership with Qatar Airways will give Aussies more choices to get to Europe.

Sydney, Brisbane and Perth will be the first cities where Aussies can take off from Virgin’s long-haul network, linking to Qatar Airways’ main hub of Doha, with Melbourne to follow in December.