Airports ready to welcome back more Australians, AAA says

Sydney Airport. Photo by Troy Mortier on Unsplash.

Following the announcement today by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that international travel bans could be lifted soon, Australian Airports Association (AAA) has welcomed the news, with Chief Executive James Goodwin saying airports would be ready to welcome back Australians.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the international border will reopen next month for states that have reached 80 per cent vaccination rates, starting with New South Wales.

Fully vaccinated Australians and permanent residents arriving in NSW will be able to home quarantine for a week, instead of paying thousands to quarantine at a hotel for a fortnight, pending the success of the state’s home quarantine trial.

Mr Goodwin said airports would be ready to welcome back increasing numbers of Australians from overseas when quarantine arrangements begin to ease and passenger caps are lifted from November.

“This is a positive step in the right direction to allow more vaccinated Australians to return home and others to reconnect with family overseas and comes just in time for Christmas,” Mr Goodwin said.

“These changes provide a more effective and clearer pathway for Australians to have the confidence to leave and re-enter the country,” Mr Goodwin said.

The international border was closed in March 2020 in response to the unfolding pandemic.

In its statement today, AAA said Australia’s international airports were working closely with government to ensure the reopening framework announced today is carried out as smoothly and safely as possible.

“Airports will be critical to ensuring the challenging logistics associated with resuming international travel will be successfully managed,” Mr Goodwin said.

“It is important airports are involved in co-designing any new arrangements required as we begin this process and look forward to working closely with government agencies on these details.”

Mr Goodwin also welcomed the development of safe travel zones where quarantine will not be required with nations such as New Zealand.

Unlike other countries, Australia isn’t intending to restrict travel to countries based on their COVID-19 situation. There will be no red, yellow, green zones – vaccinated people will be free to travel anywhere in the world so long as they quarantine at home for seven days upon return.

According to 7News, it will be up to each state as to whether they accept flights from overseas, and they must have reached a vaccination level of around 80 percent.

“There needs to be a focus on bringing back international travellers to assist in returning our economy, particularly the tourism sector, back to its full strength,” Mr Goodwin said.

“We welcome the development of safe travel zones where quarantine will not be required with nations such as New Zealand and we look forward to having other highly-vaccinated nations included as part of these pilot programs.”