Flights to Christmas Island change often. We are currently in a state of flux with new contracts being decided for 2010. All information in this section may change so please check with your travel agent and the school about your flights prior to the date you intend to travel. There are currently three flights a week to and from Christmas Island. Cobham Air Services are currently contracted to provide air services to Christmas and Cocos Islands though this contract ends early 2010 and another airline may win the new contract. There are two Cobham flights a week; Monday and Friday. Most flights are direct from Christmas Island to Perth and take around 4.5 hours. Sometimes they fly via Cocos and take around 7 hours. There is also one chartered flight a week direct to Singapore which takes around 2 hours. This flight continues on to Kuala Lumpur (KL) which takes about 40 mins. These flights can be delayed or cancelled with little or no notice, due to weather or aircraft supply problems, so it is advisable to call and check flight times shortly before departure and take out travel insurance.

Although Christmas Island is a part of Australia, travel here requires you to follow international flight guidelines. Flights depart from the International Terminal in Perth and require passengers to carry photo identification and fill in departure cards. Passengers need to be at the airport 2 hours prior to their flight time to check in. This allows you time to check in and complete departure cards while having a coffee, before moving through immigration and security.

If you have special dietary requirements, let the airline know when you book your ticket and when you confirm your seat a few weeks before you fly, so they can book you a special meal. If you are travelling with children, order a child’s meal through your travel agent. Sometimes through errors in communication, you will not receive the meal you ordered, so it is advisable to have a backup, especially for children. Island residents with children often travel with fruit, sandwiches, muesli bars and other snacks. Just ensure that you leave left-over food on the plane or declare it on entry into Perth/Christmas Island. It is also advisable to bring something to keep your children entertained as the flight can seem very long for children and there is no in-flight entertainment. Portable DVD players, electronic games and colouring in are some suggestions.

Once through immigration and security at Perth Airport, there are shops where you can purchase drinks/water, newspapers, magazines, books, children’s colouring in and some toys etc to take on board. There are also cafes and duty free stores.

If you choose to fly via Singapore, all passengers require passports with at least 6 months validity.

Teachers at CIDHS are allocated one flight per year by DET as part of their position. You can use this flight at any time, but most teachers use it at the end of the year. You can pay for your flights up front and then complete a form for reimbursement or you can fill in a form and the school organises payment for you. If you are flying to the north, via Singapore you will have to pay and seek reimbursement. Teachers can also apply for a week of professional learning off island during the year. This flight is paid for approved professional learning.

For further information please see the website http://www.christmas.net.au/ - look under ‘flights’. Please check all above details with your travel agent and/or airline and/or the school prior to departure.