Australia to Reduce Incoming Int. Passenger Capacity from July 2021

[RAM]

So much for stranded Australians being a priority.

The smokescreen about the returning Australian Olympic team put through the Media back in May 2021 was that they would NOT be using Darwin but empty 'Student Accomodation'.

Also note the total is not between 800-900 (as many athletes are not returning to Australia such as the Tennis Players etc) but around 2,000. This is the figure provided by the AOC to the AFR (oops!). In addition there are all the Australian media & their production teams (sound, vision, video processing etc).

Is that why the media have not made anything of this triple backflip with a twist?

It appears the 'cattle' are going to Darwin, and the snouts are to be put up in their home state's Govt run Quarantine Hotels. Go Animal Farm.

Around 1,100 to 1,200 AOC hangers-on.

'Exclusive' for the AFR in May 2021 direct from the AOC.

Returning Olympians may shack up in empty student digs​

Nearly 2000 returning Olympic delegates could be quarantining in largely unused student accommodation buildings under plans the country’s Olympic authorities will put to state governments next week.

New student housing could take larger groups of returning athletes and other officials, and extra hotels could be used for smaller groups under the plan, Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll said.

When was the change announced? July 28th, right after some more medals....

AOC says 'they will not be counted in the cap'. Possibly, but they are taking up the beds that would have otherwise been available to repatriation flights. Also, the AOC July 28th release only mentions the athletes/officials and conveniently forgets to mention the other 1,100 to 1,200.

Back by Xmas 2023?

 

[dajop]

Ironically, logic and science (but unfortunately not the politics) would allow Sydney to take more international arrivals than they are right now.

Just bring people in if Day 2 testing is negative send them home with on order to isolate and be tested again after Day 14 and 17 (ideally with bracelet or the like). IIRC high proportion of those that ultimately treat positive do so in Day 2 test. Even if it is only half over the last week that means that potentially have you might let 9 of the 18 out into home quarantine. But what’s the incremental risk compared to the known 1400 or so new positives over the week in the community already isolating at home? I guess new variants are the problem

 

[madrooster]

So much for stranded Australians being a priority.

The smokescreen about the returning Australian Olympic team put through the Media back in May 2021 was that they would NOT be using Darwin but empty 'Student Accomodation'.

The athletes and teams are coming in above cap into the various capitals for quarantine. Some of the larger teams are headed to DRW (note the recent QF charter NRT-DRW).

 

[RAM]

The 1st flight was on a JAL plane with over 100 people, and it is possible all the flights (to Darwin) are JAL planes.

BTW AOC delegates/officials/relatives only fly first class internationally - no exceptions.

The athletes and teams are coming in above cap into the various capitals for quarantine. Some of the larger teams are headed to DRW (note the recent QF charter NRT-DRW).

From reports (by some of the athletes themselves) it appears the majority of athletes/trainers/physios are going to Darwin and supplanting positions for 'stranded Australians'.

"A second flight carrying about 80 athletes is expected to land at DIA next Monday." (Monday August 9)

Due to the 48 hour requirement to leave Japan - the small teams (like diving) are coming on normal commercial, not charter, flights due to the excessive cost to fly a charter plane with 18 on it. Meanwhile, that's what normal commercial flights are exactly required to do.

One positive though, is that for the commercial flights used, then these athletes/trainers/coaches etc are supposed to be in addition to the passenger cap per flight.

The 1,100 to 1,200 AOC hangers-on are going to the State run hotels (in suites perhaps). Those figures were only ever revealed in the initial AOC exclusive to the AFR ealier this year.

The smoke & mirrors about not being included in the weekly caps is meaningless when they take out rooms/beds that would have otherwise been used by returning people under the caps.

This is 100% the case for the NT facility, and for at least one Sydney '5 star' hotel, it is also the case.

However, this is not what was widely publicsed by the AOC back in May about how it would work - nor what Scott Morrison responded when asked about back in early June when he said not one bed for 'stranded Australians' will be taken.

How many repatriation flights have actually arrived in Darwin for Howard Springs over the past fortnight? Scheduled for the next week?

I may have missed some but a quick search does not reveal any.

There should be 6 per week/ 12 per fortnight to use the 2,000 person capacity.

Last from the UK arrived Saturday July 24th. Next UK flight arrives Wednesday August 11. 18 days between flights.

But it has emerged that due to Howard Springs being divided into fenced 'neighbourhoods' - each Olympic's flight takes up an entire neighbourhood even if it is only 1/3rd or 1/2 occupied (such as this Monday's flight of 80 will see).

 

[Pushka]

From reports (from some of the athletes themselves) it appears all athletes/trainers/physios are going to Darwin and supplanting positions that were supposed to be solely for 'stranded Australians'.

The 1,100 to 1,200 AOC hanger-on are going to the State run hotels (in suites perhaps).

The smoke & mirrors about not being included in the weekly caps is meaningless when they take out rooms/beds that would have othewise been used by returning people under the caps.

This is 100% the case for the NT facility, and for at least one Sydney '5 star' hotel, it is also the case.

However, this is not what was widely publicsed by the AOC back in May about how it would work - nor what Scott Morrison responded when asked about back in early June when he said not one bed for 'stranded Australians' will be taken.

Wow. We agree on something then. SA is also trying to wrangle Sydney quarantined athletes out of an extra 14 days iso when they come from NSW. Mortals have to go to med hotels again. Athletes that are immunised likely to be able to home quarantine.

 

[madrooster]

Last from the UK arrived Saturday July 24th. Next UK flight arrives Wednesday August 11. 18 days between flights.

There's been two since - one arrived on 02/08 and another arrived on 04/08.

On another note... today's SQ231: 3 in first, 2 in business, 4 in premium economy and 2 in economy. It's a B777 too!

 

[awmac1]

Just heard from a friend whose wife is coming back from UK mid-Aug into Darwin using the Gov repatriation flight. It cost her $4800 GBP one way, not sure if you can pick a class on those! It is costing me exactly the same with SQ in J class so can't really see point in the Gov one tbh unless it's just that you are guaranteed not to be bumped. Anyone?

 

[louie-m]

Just heard from a friend whose wife is coming back from UK mid-Aug into Darwin using the Gov repatriation flight. It cost her $4800 GBP one way, not sure if you can pick a class on those! It is costing me exactly the same with SQ in J class so can't really see point in the Gov one tbh unless it's just that you are guaranteed not to be bumped. Anyone?

I think you've answered your own question there.

 

[awmac1]

I think you've answered your own question there.

Ha! Yes, fair enough! I was just surprised that it cost the same...I was thinking it would have been cheaper.

 

[bcworld]

Just heard from a friend whose wife is coming back from UK mid-Aug into Darwin using the Gov repatriation flight. It cost her $4800 GBP one way, not sure if you can pick a class on those! It is costing me exactly the same with SQ in J class so can't really see point in the Gov one tbh unless it's just that you are guaranteed not to be bumped. Anyone?

They economy fares are around the GBP1200 - GBP1500 mark...not sure why they vary because I'm sure they're all booked into the same bucket. It sounds like that is a business class fare.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Pressures on Howard Springs. Excuse my cynicism, but I note this announcement by NT is on the last day of thd Olympics.

The Northern Territory has announced a major change to its border policy, banning non-approved travel from declared hotspots into the NT from midnight tonight.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner says the new rules are being introduced to avoid overwhelming Darwin's Howard Springs quarantine facility.

Mr Gunner says travellers from declared hotspots will need to prove they have a legitimate reason to travel to the Territory, which will cover residents returning to the NT, essential work and some compassionate grounds.

He says too many people and businesses have been using Howard Springs as a transit point to enter other states.

 

[madrooster]

Pressures on Howard Springs. Excuse my cynicism, but I note this announcement by NT is on the last day of thd Olympics.

The domestic quarantine has about 1000 capacity and it's close to full, many of those are headed to WA.

Last year, a lot of Victorians used it to get to Qld and NSW during wave 2.

It's been going on for a while and the NT aren't happy about it.

 

[nancypants]

The domestic quarantine has about 1000 capacity and it's close to full, many of those are headed to WA.

Last year, a lot of Victorians used it to get to Qld and NSW during wave 2.

It's been going on for a while and the NT aren't happy about it.

NTG also makes a loss of around $800 per single domestic quarantiner

 

[Must...Fly!]

Another case of states pushing their problems on to others, and would probably express surprise if asked why it's happening. Almost as though people in one country tend to need to move around within it...

 

[Seat0B]

There's been two since - one arrived on 02/08 and another arrived on 04/08.

On another note... today's SQ231: 3 in first, 2 in business, 4 in premium economy and 2 in economy. It's a B777 too!

No wonder Seat Son’s flight was cancelled. That cannot possibly be economically viable. Good on SQ for doing all 4 classes though

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No wonder Seat Son’s flight was cancelled. That cannot possibly be economically viable. Good on SQ for doing all 4 classes though

Would be interesting to see the economics! They have freight as well.

Applying the formula from AFF's 'cost of operating a flight' The Cost of Operating a Commercial Flight it works out to around AUD62K to operate the 777 one way SIN-SYD. Fares are currently running at (approx) $5500 in F, $4800 in J, $2200 in W and $1700 in Y.

Plus freight and any Cth subsidy being paid to airlines.

 

[milehighclub]

The 1st flight was on a JAL plane with over 100 people, and it is possible all the flights (to Darwin) are JAL planes.

There is a QF flight from NRT to DRW tomorrow.

 

[Must...Fly!]

There is a QF flight from NRT to DRW tomorrow.

I thought they all flew first class, no exceptions. Have the aircraft been refitted with F for this charter?

 

[PineappleSkip]

I thought they all flew first class, no exceptions. Have the aircraft been refitted with F for this charter?

I presume the AOC will ride on SQ then!

Cheers skip

 

[nancypants]

I thought they all flew first class, no exceptions. Have the aircraft been refitted with F for this charter?

“Mini first class”