Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[dajop]

Passport applications surge but tourism industry demands roadmap to reopen borders

Aussies are getting an itch for travel again with passport applications doubling last month, however tourism groups are "disappointed" the budget foreshadowed international travel might not resume until mid-2022.

www.abc.net.au

Not surprising, after all international travel - for nearly all - did re-open in April, in a very limited manner. Can't go to NZ without a passport.

 

[dajop]

Any chance of a Singapore bubble will be further delayed given this:

Singapore locks down for a month as mystery COVID cases rise

Changi Airport is now the single biggest cluster of COVID cases, with 46 linked to the aerodrome, raising fears that travellers have spread the pathogen to airport staff despite strict post-arrival quarantine regulations.

www.smh.com.au

Escalating in Fiji too:

Australians fly out of Fiji ahead of snap lockdown as COVID outbreak worsens

A group of Australians fly out of Fiji before a snap lockdown in the capital Suva, as a COVID-19 outbreak linked to the Indian variant continues to worsen.

www.abc.net.au

This thing is far from over.

 

[jase05]

Escalating in Fiji too:

Australians fly out of Fiji ahead of snap lockdown as COVID outbreak worsens

A group of Australians fly out of Fiji before a snap lockdown in the capital Suva, as a COVID-19 outbreak linked to the Indian variant continues to worsen.

www.abc.net.au

This thing is far from over.

ADL had 200 seasonal workers from Fiji arrive on Monday, wonder how many have tested positive in HQ

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

I think it's something which was going to be considered. But it's up to the CI government, and there is a huge economic and cultural relationship with NZ. Not sure how their vaccine roll out is going.

Cook Islands haven't started a vaccine rollout- they haven't yet received any vaccine.

 

[Lynda2475]

NZ are vaccinating the Cook Islands, starts next week:

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Seat0B]

Have heard that the QF repatriation flight due to depart today will only leave with 70 of its 150 passengers as 40 have tested positive and the others are close contacts

I get that they could not travel on the same plane as healthy guests. But bringing home those sick Aussies is a perfect NBC training opportunity for the RAAF. Leaving sick Aussies to face the music in India’s crippled and chaotic medical system is not good enough.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I get that they could not travel on the same plane as healthy guests. But bringing home those sick Aussies is a perfect NBC training opportunity for the RAAF. Leaving sick Aussies to face the music in India’s crippled and chaotic medical system is not good enough.

We aren’t doing mass medical evacuations from anywhere nor have we done throughout the pandemic.

 

[focusedbear]

Any chance of a Singapore bubble will be further delayed given this:

Singapore locks down for a month as mystery COVID cases rise

Changi Airport is now the single biggest cluster of COVID cases, with 46 linked to the aerodrome, raising fears that travellers have spread the pathogen to airport staff despite strict post-arrival quarantine regulations.

www.smh.com.au

It appears the HK-Singapore bubble will be postponed from its 26th May launch for the second time. It shows how fragile these bubbles can be. But at least the parameters were clear: thresholds such as under 5 cases on a rolling 7 day (I think?) basis.

I see HK-Singapore as a good test of how bubbles could evolve since there is a vaccination requirement. Though I'm not expecting any rationality from the powers that be here.

 

[DC3]

says who ?

Scomo?

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

says who ?

I think you'll be able to fly beyond NZ (apart from Cook Islands) soon & thinking way before December 2021. It would be crazy for example, that you can fly to USA via NZ & not nonstop.

While people could fly to USA from NZ, flying back from USA to NZ is heavily restricted and this won't change this year. Need to be NZ resident or granted exempt.ion to enter NZ, negative covid test before travel, book a place in quarantine (limited places available) at $$$, quarantine for 14 days with further negative tests. If want to then go to Australia need a further 14 days in NZ once have left quarantine.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

I dont know. However current NZ govt is extremely risk averse. Best case is some more Pacific bubbles. If you'd asked me a month ago I would have said bubbles with Singapore & Taiwan also, but recent outbreaks in both makes that very unlikely for 2021.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

says who ?

I think you'll be able to fly beyond NZ (apart from Cook Islands) soon & thinking way before December 2021. It would be crazy for example, that you can fly to USA via NZ & not nonstop.

agree. I think the budget's 'closed borders' are for international tourism... things that might affect the economy or the economic recovery. People leaving to go to family reunions probably aren't much of a budget impact?

 

[DC3]

not talking today. & how on earth would you know this won't change this year. Suspect no one knows, but pressure is mounting. Air NZ must be desperate & govt doesn't want to keep funding them & NZ needs int tourists more than Australia does.

Anyway, the Oz Federal Government doesn’t give two hoots. No need to rush anything apparently.

 

[Seat0B]

We aren’t doing mass medical evacuations from anywhere nor have we done throughout the pandemic.

I understand that is what has happened to date. However, given the unique situation in India, so unique that the flight pause was implemented, it might be time to start.

 

[Melburnian1]

It's only a few swinging voters that got alp-unions elected in Qld.

Unfortunately for Federal Coalition or Queensland LNP supporters, that's not true. Queensland's ALP won easily.

 

[serfty]

Unfortunately for Federal Coalition or Queensland LNP supporters, that's not true. Queensland's ALP won easily.

That does not make @frequently 's statement untrue.

At the QLD state election One Nation lost 7% of their primary vote. Pundits indicate Labor gained 4% of that, Lib-Nats 2%.

Basically that 2% delta was enough for Labor to gain 5 seats meaning a differenceof 10 more parliamentary votes (they lost one to the Greens but that's a wash).

Party Totals

Queensland Party Totals 2020

www.abc.net.au

 

[oznflfan]

just read in todays SMH

Australia’s former deputy chief medical officer getting stuck into dodgy doctors.

Former deputy chief doc: ‘Australia must reopen borders’

Australia’s former deputy chief medico has called on the medical profession to smash the false idol of COVID-19 eradication and prepare the public for the next critical phase of the pandemic: open international borders.

www.smh.com.au

Might be flying almost everywhere earlier than many are saying. Remember govts here have a vested interest in us all spending our dollars here, although with a sea on money around the world, inflation will increase, but on the other hand, the music has to stop sometime & I don't want to be left without a chair. Silly people paying huge amounts for real estate right now.

We need an early election, it comes down to that. Scomo believes the sheep want no COVID and shut borders, but he is smart and knows borders need opening.

He is therefore not going to touch the hot potato of international travel until he has secured his next four years, then magically the risks will change to the degree we can leave the country and travel (if vaccinated).

Sportsbet have an early election in October or November 2021 offering best odds.

 

[mviy]

He is therefore not going to touch the hot potato of international travel until he has secured his next four years

To secure his next four years he would need to go to the polls in a year’s time as we have elections every 3 years.

I agree on things not changing much till after the election.

Sportsbet have an early election in October or November 2021 offering best odds.

The budget did look like an election year budget.

 

[mviy]

They could do a token gesture of doing some points planes for the first few days similar to NZ flights. If flights to the UK do resume in late December I'll probably go then or early in 2022 (depending on pricing and seating availability).

 

[N860CR]

Leaving sick Aussies to face the music in India’s crippled and chaotic medical system is not good enough.

Interesting, isn’t it? Supposedly the virus is so bad we must shut down the country (repeatedly), lock people out, destroy lives and livelihoods... Yet when an Australian actually has said horrible virus, we just abandon them in India of all places?