Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says the disruption Australian travellers face upon flying overseas has not deterred demand for flights overseas as borders begin to re-open across the world post pandemic.

Joyce told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings new regulations for airlines, including mask mandates, were complex but necessary, before Qantas’ inaugural first direct flight to Rome from Australia leaves Perth on Saturday, one of many European international routes in high demand from Australians.

He said ticket sales for international flights were tracking higher than before the pandemic in Australia.

“We’re probably actually ahead of a lot of airlines, we’re getting back there,” Joyce said on Wednesday.

“The ticket demand is there, we’ve got more than pre-COVID levels of demand.

“There’s huge pent-up demand, people wanting to visit family and friends… our US operation is going gangbusters.”

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