Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[guiguioz]

Speaking in Boston where airline chiefs have gathered for the International Air Transport Association annual general meeting, Qantas boss Alan Joyce provided more details of how overseas travel will look when flights resume next month.

Mr Joyce said they were continuing to work with IATA on the technology for a digital travel pass, to make the experience as automated as possible.

Passengers would be required to undergo a Covid test before departure in Australia, and again before their return flight, as well as two more tests during the seven days of home quarantine.

Mr Joyce stressed Qantas did not believe seven days of quarantine was sustainable, and hoped to see that reduced “quite rapidly” to 72 hours and then removed entirely.

There would be checks by both Qantas and Australian Border Force to verify whether a person boarding a flight in London or Los Angeles was vaccinated, had tested negative to Covid, and had a home in which to quarantine.

Despite the heavy layer of new protocols, Mr Joyce said the response to the first overseas flights on sale in mid-November had been overwhelming, prompting Qantas to add more services within a few hours.

 

[Lynda2475]

Then you got to be fair and accept all WHO vaccines.

Nope, the WHO bar was too low to accept with only requiring 50% efficacy. We need to insist only recognizing vaccines that actually work against Delta.

 

[dajop]

Nope, the WHO bar was too low to accept with only requiring 50% efficacy. We need to insist only recognizing vaccines that actually work against Delta.

Against what? Symptomatic infection or hospitalisation? Whilst 50% efficacy against symptomatic infection is not a high bar, what is really needed in a non-covid zero environment is protection (high efficacy) against hospitalisation.

TGA have indicated the rational for their recognition of certain vaccines for the purpose of international travellers arriving in Australia (and therefore "when international flights may resume/bans lifted" ) and non-recognition of others (eg Sputnik) on their website. Worth a quick read through.

COVID-19 vaccines not registered in Australia but in current international use - TGA advice on "recognition"

This document provides the TGA's assessment on the protection offered by certain COVID-19 vaccines that are administered in certain countries but not currently registered in Australia.

www.tga.gov.au

 

[levelnine]

Pretty bad that Qantas clearly have been briefed more than the public (and presumably other airlines) about arrangements for home quarantine:

Qantas has revealed more details about what international travel will be like when it restarts regular flights from Sydney to London and Los Angeles on November 14.

Passengers will need to prove they have been vaccinated and have returned a negative COVID-19 test before they fly, chief executive Alan Joyce said from the sidelines of a meeting of global airline bosses in Boston on Tuesday (AEDT).

Qantas boss Alan Joyce.CREDIT:JANIE BARRETT

Inbound travellers will also need to take two tests while undergoing seven days of home quarantine, he said.

The Morrison government said last week it would reopen the international border, and replace 14 days hotel quarantine with at-home isolation for vaccinated travellers, when states were 80 per cent vaccinated.

Mr Joyce said Qantas was working on a smartphone app passengers will use to upload and verify their vaccination status and test results, while another app will use geolocation and facial recognition to confirm travellers are complying with home quarantine requirements.

He said it will be up to travellers to declare they have somewhere to isolate when they arrive in Australia before boarding.

“There is a level of trust with this,” he said. “There will be an electronic arrival form that people have to fill in to come into the country which will have the details of where they’re staying... and there will be requirements for people on all of that to tell the truth and to be honest because they’re legal forms.”

Mr Joyce said he wanted quarantine requirements to be dropped altogether quickly as Australia hits its vaccination targets and opens up while allowing the virus to circulate.

“If there’s no more risk from a person coming in from the UK or US then it may be a testing regime - test and release – which is what a lot of countries are doing at the moment,” he said.

“We need to move from seven days to get tourists and to get business travellers to start travelling again.”

As it happened: Dominic Perrottet becomes next NSW premier as state records 608 new COVID-19 cases, seven deaths; Victoria sets national daily record with 1763 new cases, four deaths

NSW Liberals are debating whether Dominic Perrottet is an ultra-conservative, Victoria is preparing to overhaul its contact tracing and Australia will buy hundreds of thousands of experimental COVID treatment pills.

www.theage.com.au

 

[burmans]

Pretty bad that Qantas clearly have been briefed more than the public (and presumably other airlines) about arrangements for home quarantine:

As it happened: Dominic Perrottet becomes next NSW premier as state records 608 new COVID-19 cases, seven deaths; Victoria sets national daily record with 1763 new cases, four deaths

NSW Liberals are debating whether Dominic Perrottet is an ultra-conservative, Victoria is preparing to overhaul its contact tracing and Australia will buy hundreds of thousands of experimental COVID treatment pills.

www.theage.com.au

Personally I think this is totally appropriate that airlines have a bit more notice. Airlines have a longer lead time and need to put things in place, ramp and train up staff, aircraft, systems etc., whereas individuals can get online and book a ticket for next few days. To allow flying the public don't only need just an announcement, they need airlines who have had time to get prepared to fly as well.

 

[ayushamity]

''Following completion of home quarantine pilots in New South Wales and South Australia, it is anticipated that states and territories that are ready to do so will roll out:

• Seven day home quarantine for Australian citizens and permanent residents fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use in Australia or ‘recognised’ by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• 14-day managed quarantine for anyone not vaccinated or vaccinated with a vaccine not approved or recognised by the TGA.''

You guys are making me nervous LOL. What is the chance that Scomo says if you are unvaccinated or non TGA vaccinated, you cannot enter Australia at all (atleast now you can do 14 day hotel quarantine).

 

[levelnine]

Personally I think this is totally appropriate that airlines have a bit more notice. Airlines have a longer lead time and need to put things in place, ramp and train up staff, aircraft, systems etc., whereas individuals can get online and book a ticket for next few days. To allow flying the public don't only need just an announcement, they need airlines who have had time to get prepared to fly as well.

If there are plans in place, they will include crucial matters that the public need to know to prepare for home quarantine (eg can you quarantine in an apartment? can you quarantine with other people in the place of residence? what date will it be starting?). I suggest you listen to the latest AFF on Air podcast where Matt extensively sets out a large number of crucial unanswered questions.

 

[dajop]

If there are plans in place, they will include crucial matters that the public need to know to prepare for home quarantine

Another example, logistical question, how do you get to the place of quarantine? We would need to travel 125km from the airport to where we would complete home quarantine, how can we do that ? (for example).

 

[Princess Fiona]

Another example, logistical question, how do you get to the place of quarantine? We would need to travel 125km from the airport to where we would complete home quarantine, how can we do that ? (for example).

I read somewhere but can’t recall where that for the NSW pilot you had to live within a 2 hour drive from the airport.
Can travel by private car or taxi/ hire car.

 

[justinbrett]

I read somewhere but can’t recall where that for the NSW pilot you had to live within a 2 hour drive from the airport.
Can travel by private car or taxi/ hire car.

eh - I can probably make it - just - if there's no traffic thanks to the new NorthConnex tunnel. Google is saying 2:11 at the moment.

I thought when they announced home quarantine trials they said they would trial people in "The Regions" as well. The 2 hour limit might just be for the first stage of the trial.

I guess there will be a market for Airbnb in Sydney otherwise.

 

[Pushka]

eh - I can probably make it - just - if there's no traffic thanks to the new NorthConnex tunnel. Google is saying 2:11 at the moment.

I thought when they announced home quarantine trials they said they would trial people in "The Regions" as well. The 2 hour limit might just be for the first stage of the trial.

I guess there will be a market for Airbnb in Sydney otherwise.

I heard two hours as well for SA weeks ago and just checked, our place in the country is 2 hour 6 minutes. We live in an apartment in the city area so expect that won't be allowed.

 

[Happy Dude]

In addition to the problems with those that don't live within two hours of an INT airport, I just can't see how home quarantine for the masses is viable when it isn't working now. Several breaches in Tasmania, together with the consistently high numbers in the community whilst infectious in VIC, ACT and NSW, suggests that people just will not stay at home, especially if they aren't symptomatic. There's a lot to be ironed out.

 

[drron]

Nope, the WHO bar was too low to accept with only requiring 50% efficacy. We need to insist only recognizing vaccines that actually work against Delta.

Well President Biden disagrees with you as well as Dr.Fauci.The USA has announced they will accept all on the WHO approved list.

 

[Jousams]

In addition to the problems with those that don't live within two hours of an INT airport, I just can't see how home quarantine for the masses is viable when it isn't working now. Several breaches in Tasmania, together with the consistently high numbers in the community whilst infectious in VIC, ACT and NSW, suggests that people just will not stay at home, especially if they aren't symptomatic. There's a lot to be ironed out.

We’re about 2-3 weeks away from widespread community transmission irrespective of overseas arrivals. It won’t matter.

 

[justinbrett]

I heard two hours as well for SA weeks ago and just checked, our place in the country is 2 hour 6 minutes. We live in an apartment in the city area so expect that won't be allowed.

That was the other thing - the NSW trial also included people living in apartment buildings.

 

[Pushka]

In addition to the problems with those that don't live within two hours of an INT airport, I just can't see how home quarantine for the masses is viable when it isn't working now. Several breaches in Tasmania, together with the consistently high numbers in the community whilst infectious in VIC, ACT and NSW, suggests that people just will not stay at home, especially if they aren't symptomatic. There's a lot to be ironed out.

It will all be irrelevant once community outbreaks are widespread which is likely the case in Victoria. Maybe it's just a way to get people used to the idea of overseas returnees who until now have been seen by some as the scourge of the Covid outbreak. That is no longer the case.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

You guys are making me nervous LOL. What is the chance that Scomo says if you are unvaccinated or non TGA vaccinated, you cannot enter Australia at all (atleast now you can do 14 day hotel quarantine).

Both Sinovac and Covishield will be recognised vaccines ASAP in AUS as the lucrative international student market depends on it (not sure about Sinopharm). You certainly wouldn't want to be travelling internationally while unvaccinated regardless of your personal beliefs as it will be almost impossible.

Jingxian is fully vaccinated but Australia didn't recognise it — until now

Law student Xu Jingxian was fully vaccinated in China, but there was a problem — Australia did not recognise her Sinovac vaccine. Now the TGA has given it the thumbs-up, along with India's Covishield, international students hope it will open a door for their return to Australia.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Happy Dude]

We’re about 2-3 weeks away from widespread community transmission irrespective of overseas arrivals. It won’t matter.

It will all be irrelevant once community outbreaks are widespread which is likely the case in Victoria. Maybe it's just a way to get people used to the idea of overseas returnees who until now have been seen by some as the scourge of the Covid outbreak. That is no longer the case.

Well, hopefully they'll drop the charade then.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Well, hopefully they'll drop the charade then.

Yes I feel many things will change on a daily basis once international travel starts.

 

[Tiki]

Another example, logistical question, how do you get to the place of quarantine? We would need to travel 125km from the airport to where we would complete home quarantine, how can we do that ? (for example).

I just did a dummy booking for 2 weeks in late Jan at BNE ParkLong. It was $159. RT Uber would be about $50-60. I would gladly pay an extra $100 to be able to hop in my car and drive straight home.