Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 9 February 2026
AIR EXTRAVAGANZA
Perth Airport has partnered with Click Frenzy for a seven-day Flight Frenzy sale which ends at 11.59pm on Tuesday, February 10. It covers flights with more than 15 major international airlines, including Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Airways.
Deals already confirmed include:
Qatar Airways Economy fares starting from $1719 return to Europe, UK, North America and more.
Singapore Airlines Sale includes flights to Europe, South-East Asia, west Asia and more.
Qantas Save on flights to New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Pacific.
Jetstar Fly from Perth to Bangkok from $198 one-way in economy; Perth to Singapore from $139 one-way economy; and Perth to Bali from $149 one-way, economy.
Cathay Pacific Book the morning flight from Perth for deals — Shanghai from $852, Tokyo from $1046, Taipei from $945, Beijing from $903 and Osaka from $1173.
Scoot Deals on flights between Perth and Asia (all one-way, economy) — to Ho Chi Minh City from $197, Manila from $239, Taipei from $237, Chiang Mai from $278 and Nha Trang from $273.
Air Asia Perth to Bali or Kuala Lumpur from $159.
Other airlines which have already confirmed their participation include Batik Air, Malaysia Airlines, Vietjet Air, Air Mauritius, Transnusa, China Southern Airlines, South African Airways, Nexus, Vietnam Airlines, ANA.
clickfrenzy.com.au
QANTAS DEALS
. . . and Qantas has sale fares on more than 500,000 international flights.
It ends at 8.59pm WA time on Monday, February 9, 2026, unless sold out prior.
Sale fares are for travel between February 4 to December 11, 2026, with some blackout dates.
As examples, fares from Perth include:
Paris economy return from $1549. Paris premium economy return from $3849. Paris business class return from $8799. There are travel dates available throughout July, August and September 2026.
Johannesburg economy return from $1479, business class return from $6599.
Fares include checked baggage and food and beverages.
qantas.com
AND WE’RE OFF ...
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace says: “Australians continue to show a strong appetite for international travel and with the Australian dollar strengthening and some excellent sale fares across almost our entire international network, it’s a perfect time to be planning an overseas trip.”
LEARN THE LANGUAGE
A reader has noticed how often we publish stories about Indonesian destinations. (Natural enough, as it is a near neighbour). She writes: “Would it be of interest to run a note for people who might be interested in learning the language to help them with their journeys in Indonesia?” Indeed it would (and I am).
“I personally did this a number of years ago and it has enriched my experience so much. I have since become quite passionate about the language. I started learning at Balai Bahasa Indonesia in Perth and their new term starts on February 9.”
balaibahasaperth.org
POWER OF COMMUNITY
Balai Bahasa Indonesia Perth believes in the power of community to foster understanding and appreciation between Australia and Indonesia. Its Indonesian language classes are at various levels, for adult students and are both face-to-face and online.
The organisation was launched in 2008 at the Indonesian consulate in Perth. Since then, it has been committed to enhancing the relationship between Australia and Indonesia at all levels of society.
Balai Bahasa Indonesia Perth is run by a voluntary board comprised of community delegates including Indonesian language teachers, local community members interested in Indonesia and Indonesian language and members of the Indonesian community in Perth.
COFFIN CLASSICS
And our writer Steve McKenna received an email from Dean Fanderlinden of Kingsley: “I just read your article in Saturday’s paper on the south-west coast of France (and its oyster vending machines). Just for your info, Coffin Bay in South Australia has an oyster vending machine. It is stocked daily with delicious oysters. From what I recall about $20 for a dozen.” Oyster Xpress’ vending machines are the brainchild of Oyster HQ in Coffin Bay, South Australia. And, as its name suggests, Oyster HQ is the home of all-things-oyster there. It’s at 100 Esplanade (oysterhq.com.au).
Oyster HQ is open for breakfast (8am to 10am) and “all day grazing” from 11am to 8pm daily. Its oyster menu includes Native Oysters topped with a finger lime dressing and lemon myrtle oil and Japanese Oysters topped with pickled ginger, soy and toasted sesame. Both are $23.50 for half a dozen.
Coffin Bay is a good 700km road trip from Adelaide via Port Augusta (or a 50-minute flight from Adelaide to Port Lincoln Airport) (visitcoffinbay.com.au).
AUTHORS AT SEA
Cruise company Seabourn has announced its 2026 “Authors at Sea” and “Seabourn Conversations” programs. They are on sailings in Europe, the Nordics and Asia.
Authors include Joanne Harris, who has written more than 30 books, from Chocolat (made into a film), Blackberry Wine (set in France), Coastliners (life on a French island) and The Strawberry Thief (the fourth novel in the Chocolat series). She is on Seabourn Venture, leaving Barcelona (Spain) on June 11, 2026. The 13-day voyage on Seabourn Venture is from $11,389 per person in a veranda suite.
A Seabourn spokesperson says: “Both programs offer guests the chance to interact with acclaimed writers and guest speakers through engaging talks, hands-on workshops, and intimate gatherings such as shared meals and shore excursions.”
seabourn.com
HORIZONS & HAPPINESS
“The closer you get to that line (the horizon), the farther it moves. If you walk towards it, it moves away. It flees from you. You see it, but it doesn’t exist.” — Marc Dalens, a main character in Chocolat, and played by Francois Cluzet in the movie.
“I believe that being happy is the only important thing. Happiness.” — Chocolat’s lead character Vianne Rocher, played by Juliette Binoche in the movie.
(Naturally they only sell plane chocolate at airports.)
PRETTY VILLAGE
The movie Chocolat was primarily filmed in the medieval, hilltop village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in the Burgundy region. It was chosen for its timeless, old-world charm.
In tomorrow’s Sunday Travel , we reveal the locations of the new Wuthering Heights movie, starring Margot Robbie, and the new season of Bridgerton.
BALI EIGHT
My Bali has a good package called Padma Legian & Ubud Ultimate Escape which is from $2699 per person for eight nights (and valued at $4199). That includes return flights with luggage and private transfers.
There are then five nights in a deluxe chalet at Padma Resort Legian, with daily breakfast, wi-fi and lots of other benefits.
That’s followed by three nights in a premier room at Padma Resort Ubud with breakfast, wi-fi and other add-ons.
It has to be booked by February 28, 2026.
mybali.com.au or 1300 332 254 and quote “code B-1891”.