Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[burmans]

Some more reporting on this today.

Could Australia-New Zealand flights begin in July?

The blueprint for a trans-Tasman 'travel bubble' is expected to be ready by June, says NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Some more reporting on this today.

Could Australia-New Zealand flights begin in July?

The blueprint for a trans-Tasman 'travel bubble' is expected to be ready by June, says NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

www.executivetraveller.com

I mentioned a while ago that when international flights resume that it may be that the elderly and others more prone to morbidity or poor health outcomes fro Covid 19 may not be able to travel and so in that article I was not surprised to read:

However, Markwell suggested that travel might be restricted to those with a lower risk of suffering serious illness

High BMI's and comorbities may well on the table.

 

[p--and--t]

Kinda glad to see a shift of media focus to AU-NZ flights.

Will keep the microphone holder media bees buzzing around the honeypot of a new topic to feast on for a week or three.

Makes a nice change to the tedium of the daily intense frenzy around 6-10 media stand-ups to discuss a person or two "maybe infected/maybe not".

 

[CityRail]

Greece invites Australia and NZ to join travel bubble

Visitors arriving from a group of 29 approved countries could be subject to sample coronavirus testing, the Tourism Ministry said.

www.smh.com.au

Greece invites Australia and NZ to join their travel bubble.

 

[Pushka]

Greece invites Australia and NZ to join travel bubble

Visitors arriving from a group of 29 approved countries could be subject to sample coronavirus testing, the Tourism Ministry said.

www.smh.com.au

Greece invites Australia and NZ to join their travel bubble.

On direct flights. Kind of limits the opportunities for Australians that! When we can travel again.

 

[jase05]

On direct flights. Kind of limits the opportunities for Australians that! When we can travel again.

In the past I’ve often wondered why with all the Greek and Italian migrants that we have in Australia and with both being pretty big tourist destinations for Australians whether there is a market for direct flights to either Rome or Athens. I’m guessing QF has crunched the numbers and decided it isn’t worth it and that Paris and Frankfurt are better options

 

[jakeseven7]

In the past I’ve often wondered why with all the Greek and Italian migrants that we have in Australia and with both being pretty big tourist destinations for Australians whether there is a market for direct flights to either Rome or Athens. I’m guessing QF has crunched the numbers and decided it isn’t worth it and that Paris and Frankfurt are better options

No money (yield) in Greece. Country is still an economic basket case, probably will be for the rest of our lifetimes!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Australia and New Zealand are two of 29 countries invited by the Greek government to join a "travel bubble"

The 29 countries are: Albania, Australia, Austria, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia, Japan, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lebanon, New Zealand, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, South Korea, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Finland

Travel to Greece during coronavirus: Australians invited to join travel bubble

Visitors arriving from a group of 29 approved countries could be subject to sample coronavirus testing, the Tourism Ministry said.

www.traveller.com.au

 

[Mattg]

It's all well and good for Greece to "invite" Australia and New Zealand to join their travel bubble, but how are we supposed to get there if we aren't allowed to leave the country? (Not to mention the requirement for 14 days of hotel isolation on return.)

I cannot see the Australian government reciprocating the offer.

 

[kpc]

The 29 countries are: ....China....

I guess Greece is after the Chinese tourists' $$$ rather than concerns about importing more coronavirus

 

[Flashback]

I guess Greece is after the Chinese tourists' $$$ rather than concerns about importing more coronavirus

That was my first thought when I saw that too, an odd country to include.

 

[drron]

Maldives may open on July 1 but plenty of conditions on entry.

• Travelers would have to apply for a tourist visa in advance, at a cost of $100 (previously many countries didn’t require any visas)
• Visas would only be granted to those who have a confirmed booking for a minimum of 14 nights, as well as travel insurance
• Travelers would need to submit either a negative antigen test or a positive antibody test, up to a week before arrival
• Travelers would have to pay $100 for an additional PCR antigen test upon arrival in Male
• Guests would need to be confined to their quarters until their test results are reported, which would take from three to 12 hours

Maldives Considers Shocking Tourist Entry Requirements

The Maldives is planning on welcoming back tourists in a matter of weeks, but the restrictions on visits are unprecedented.

onemileatatime.com

 

[jase05]

Maldives may open on July 1 but plenty of conditions on entry.

• Travelers would have to apply for a tourist visa in advance, at a cost of $100 (previously many countries didn’t require any visas)
• Visas would only be granted to those who have a confirmed booking for a minimum of 14 nights, as well as travel insurance
• Travelers would need to submit either a negative antigen test or a positive antibody test, up to a week before arrival
• Travelers would have to pay $100 for an additional PCR antigen test upon arrival in Male
• Guests would need to be confined to their quarters until their test results are reported, which would take from three to 12 hours

Maldives Considers Shocking Tourist Entry Requirements

The Maldives is planning on welcoming back tourists in a matter of weeks, but the restrictions on visits are unprecedented.

onemileatatime.com

Is the headline of “Shocking” a bit misleading?
I don’t see anything wrong with those conditions of entry. The minimum of 14 nights stay might put a few people off though I reckon

 

[drron]

Fly Aeroflot and you need to wear gloves and a mask.the mask to be changed every 3 hours.

Aeroflot Passengers Have To Wear Gloves, Change Masks Every Three Hours

Aeroflot has announced updated onboard safety policies, including requiring passengers to wear gloves, and change masks every three hours.

onemileatatime.com

 

[Pushka]

It's all well and good for Greece to "invite" Australia and New Zealand to join their travel bubble, but how are we supposed to get there if we aren't allowed to leave the country? (Not to mention the requirement for 14 days of hotel isolation on return.)

I cannot see the Australian government reciprocating the offer.

I have a 35 person Greek Island cruise booked for July. I tried canceling a while back but they said the cruise hadn’t been cancelled. I can see the email Monday “see, we told you you could do the cruise” completely oblivious to anything other than what their Govt says.

 

[OATEK]

I have a 35 person Greek Island cruise booked for July. I tried canceling a while back but they said the cruise hadn’t been cancelled. I can see the email Monday “see, we told you you could do the cruise” completely oblivious to anything other than what their Govt says.

The latest from our Greek cruise line (from whom I have been waiting for a refund for 2mths) is as follows:

...we have taken the difficult decision to extend the suspension of our sailings until July 30th 2020 due to the ongoing travel restrictions and temporary port closures within the region in which we operate.

 

[drron]

Problems in Tahiti with IC Moorea closing permanently.

InterContinental Moorea Closes Permanently

The InterContinental Moorea in French Polynesia will be closing permanently, given the unprecedented drop in demand due to COVID-19.

onemileatatime.com

And Le Meridien Bora Bora closing for 2 years for renovations.

Le Meridien Bora Bora Closes For Renovations (18 To 24 Months)

Le Meridien Bora Bora closes for 18 to 24 months to do much neededrenovations.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[Pushka]

The latest from our Greek cruise line (from whom I have been waiting for a refund for 2mths) is as follows:

...we have taken the difficult decision to extend the suspension of our sailings until July 30th 2020 due to the ongoing travel restrictions and temporary port closures within the region in which we operate.

Ah thanks. I just checked and our cruise is the last one cancelled and the one after ours is happening. They refuse to provide a refund but give us a credit voucher that must be used by April 2022. Not interested. Have no idea when we can travel to Greece again. Will try the travel insurance route.

 

[JohnM]

Problems in Tahiti with IC Moorea closing permanently.

InterContinental Moorea Closes Permanently

The InterContinental Moorea in French Polynesia will be closing permanently, given the unprecedented drop in demand due to COVID-19.

onemileatatime.com

And Le Meridien Bora Bora closing for 2 years for renovations.

Le Meridien Bora Bora Closes For Renovations (18 To 24 Months)

Le Meridien Bora Bora closes for 18 to 24 months to do much neededrenovations.

loyaltylobby.com

When I was in French Polynesia several years ago, there were quite a few resorts 'closed for renovations'. Talking to locals, this was a euphemism for 'closed for good' to skirt around draconian French labour laws where staff are unsackable that apply even in this South Seas Departement (Departments of France - Wikipedia)...

 

[dajop]

For “essential” business travel some negotiations going on with Singapore apparently .... sounds like it could be reliant on rigorous testing ... be interesting to know if AU government is interested or not ...

Singapore in discussions with S. Korea, Australia, to establish 'green lanes' for travel

SINGAPORE - Talks are underway with South Korea and Australia to establish "green lanes" for travel during the Covid-19 environment, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Saturday (May 30). Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com