Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Pushka]

Oh okay. I get it now.

I was wondering the other day whether a NZ bubble, if it ever gets off the ground, comes with the long-aspired promise to transition to domestic terminals? Potentially much more palatable for both QF and ANZ to run across the ditch as an extension of a domestic airline rather than the sole destinations in an international schedule? But I'm a mug punter on this, so there's probably heaps of logistics that would need to be addressed (not least of which any border requirements).

Yes. That's a great point. Sporting affiliations would certainly support that. Rugby. Netball and so on.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The only solution NZ will provide as far as airlines go is for NZ. I wonder if Qantas would even bother

When NZ opens up, the Pacific Islands will open up as well. If not immediately, then very soon after.

 

[Pushka]

When NZ opens up, the Pacific Islands will open up as well. If not immediately, then very soon after.

So Fiji and the likes? Still not Qantas focus areas though. Nice enough but not enough.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So Fiji and the likes? Still not Qantas focus areas though. Nice enough but not enough.

No not enough. But if the rest of the world is not available traffic numbers could well be up. This could apply to the NZ route as well.

I doubt that Qantas will be content to be purely a domestic airline, and will want to have a footprint that can expand as other international destinations slowly re-emerge. They also will want to stay dominant over Bain-Virgin.

Qantas also operate Qantas Freight and they will not want to see that die in a period when international freight may more important than passengers.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I have been reading how the Kiwis have been taking the same paranoid pills as Qld and WA, one of the factors bursting the nascent bubble.
The article below originally appeared in stuff.co.nz

Traveller | Why the trans-Tasman bubble is dead

Earlier, Winston Peters had blamed Australia, in the great tradition of politicians pointing the finger elsewhere. Apparently he had been advocating direct flights from NZ to Tasmania, for no apparent reason

ABC | NZ travel bubble being delayed by Australian states' coronavirus border closures


Cheers skip

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I have been reading how the Kiwis have been taking the same paranoid pills as Qld and WA, one of the factors bursting the nascent bubble.
The article below originally appeared in stuff.co.nz

Traveller | Why the trans-Tasman bubble is dead

Earlier, Winston Peters had blamed Australia, in the great tradition of politicians pointing the finger elsewhere. Apparently he had been advocating direct flights from NZ to Tasmania, for no apparent reason

ABC | NZ travel bubble being delayed by Australian states' coronavirus border closures


Cheers skip

The Kiwis will certainly not enter into a bubble unless there is a sustained period of mainly zero new cases. So the current spike in Victoria is going to push things back.

But there will always be the risk of an occasional new cases as even the Kiwis are still receiving for example air and sea freight and will continue to do so even if they stop all people entering into country. Errors are going to happen.

 

[I love to travel]

It could also be an opportunity to revive the Aus and NZ domestic travel idea to when/if the bubble is created.

 

[jakeseven7]

Earlier, Winston Peters had blamed Australia, in the great tradition of politicians pointing the finger elsewhere. Apparently he had been advocating direct flights from NZ to Tasmania, for no apparent reason

I heard he’s being paid by HBA airport to lobby for this, because they are desperate to actually make the name ‘Hobart International Airport’ relevant
[/QUOTE]

 

[VPS]

I have been reading how the Kiwis have been taking the same paranoid pills as Qld and WA, one of the factors bursting the nascent bubble.
The article below originally appeared in stuff.co.nz

Traveller | Why the trans-Tasman bubble is dead

Earlier, Winston Peters had blamed Australia, in the great tradition of politicians pointing the finger elsewhere. Apparently he had been advocating direct flights from NZ to Tasmania, for no apparent reason

ABC | NZ travel bubble being delayed by Australian states' coronavirus border closures


Cheers skip

Winston Peters always been a person that likes to make provocative comments. I agree with many others that NZ travel won't happen until after the NZ election.

 

[AisleSeat]

The EU Council agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries from 1 July. Australia and New Zealand are on the list.

Council agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries

The Council today adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU.

www.consilium.europa.eu

 

[drron]

Doesn't matter what the EU or others decide.We aren't allowed out.
Have just booked something for our only OS trip.November 2022.If that is a problem we are all stuffed.

There is still one on the books for October which we expect not to take pl;ace.just waiting for the inevitable cancellations.

 

[seanQLD]

ScoMo says TRAVEL EXEMPTIONS FOR BUSINESS

But .... HOW ?!?!? How the hell to apply for that ... The standard IMMI exemption process is NOT setup for business travelers to apply for in any sort of bulk numbers.... or as a group. That (existing) process does NOT match with what ScoMo is saying in that interview....

Any thoughts ?

 

[straitman]

ScoMo says TRAVEL EXEMPTIONS FOR BUSINESS

But .... HOW ?!?!? How the hell to apply for that ... The standard IMMI exemption process is NOT setup for business travelers to apply for in any sort of bulk numbers.... or as a group. That (existing) process does NOT match with what ScoMo is saying in that interview....

Any thoughts ?

If they see the need they can and will adjust the processes.

 

[Gremlin]

ScoMo says TRAVEL EXEMPTIONS FOR BUSINESS

But .... HOW ?!?!? How the hell to apply for that ... The standard IMMI exemption process is NOT setup for business travelers to apply for in any sort of bulk numbers.... or as a group. That (existing) process does NOT match with what ScoMo is saying in that interview....

Any thoughts ?

A couple of things...

1. It is already happening. A friend of mine has just had three days of face to face business dealings overseas, bookended by two weeks quarantine at both his destination and upon his return. He met the criteria of essential business. His quarantine costs were required to be covered by his employer and he was required to have travel insurance covering COVID (which was sourced through the company's insurance broker and apparently cost more than the rest of his trip put together! ). But the process wasn't easy. I don't think at this stage it's meant to be easy.

2. In terms of the scale that ScoMo suggested, this seems to be the sort of thing that politicians talk about happening "very soon". That degree of ambiguity works well in political-land (see "we're not ruling anything in or ruling anything out" and "I don't identify with the premise of your question" for other examples), but it leaves those of us working in business where this sort of thing is a real barrier to success with genuine frustration. Sorry you are sharing that. As am I right now...

 

[Happy Dude]

The outbound travel restrictions placed on Australians are contradictary to reasonable logic. If they can bring in god knows who/what disguised as international students from god knows where, then there shouldn't be any issues with returning Australians from destinations that don't require quarantine on arrival.

 

[seanQLD]

I agree with your point #2 ... very well articulated.

About point #1 .. For me, as I run my own business, there's no "employer" , that would be my own pocket.....

On my travel insurance ... I already have TI that covers covid... How you ask ? Well... because I travel so much (before covid) I get it annually (unlimited trips) , last renewal was Nov 2019 i.e. before COVID... Yes I have checked.. all my 2020 flights were booked in Jan ( also before covid).. My TI covers COVID, covers medi-vac.. No problems there....

Regarding QLD and who-pays-quarantine... The answer is depends when the flight booking was made.... As mine were made before 17 June 2020... Qld govt covers cost of the return quarantine. But yes... I would be required to pay for the quarantine in the destination country

 

[Gremlin]

The outbound travel restrictions placed on Australians are contradictary to reasonable logic. If they can bring in god knows who/what disguised as international students from god knows where, then there shouldn't be any issues with returning Australians from destinations that don't require quarantine on arrival.

International students, when allowed, will still be required to quarantine. Business travellers are still required to quarantine. This is not about quarantine-free travel - that's a long way off. This is about restarting business travel in some form.

 

[Gremlin]

I agree with your point #2 ... very well articulated.

About point #1 .. For me, as I run my own business, there's no "employer" , that would be my own pocket.....

On my travel insurance ... I already have TI that covers covid... How you ask ? Well... because I travel so much (before covid) I get it annually (unlimited trips) , last renewal was Nov 2019 i.e. before COVID... Yes I have checked.. all my 2020 flights were booked in Jan ( also before covid).. My TI covers COVID, covers medi-vac.. No problems there....

Regarding QLD and who-pays-quarantine... The answer is depends when the flight booking was made.... As mine were made before 17 June 2020... Qld govt covers cost of the return quarantine. But yes... I would be required to pay for the quarantine in the destination country

View attachment 221480

As best I understand, the question of paying for quarantine upon return is linked to the approval of outbound travel (at least, it was for my mate). Regardless of port of entry, he (his employer) had to pay quarantine costs. He quarantined in SYD and had to pay.

As I understand it, the "quarantine for free" only applies to returned travellers (as in those who have been OS since prior to the border closures), not those first leaving Australia. YMMV, but please share if your experience is different.

 

[Happy Dude]

International students, when allowed, will still be required to quarantine. Business travellers are still required to quarantine. This is not about quarantine-free travel - that's a long way off. This is about restarting business travel in some form.

Yes and business travel can't start until the gov says its ok to leave. Many countries are now happy to have Australians without restrictions. So the hold point seems to be exiting the country. It makes more sense to simply have appropriate quarantine requirements upon return - for all. My point is that it appears as though international students will be treated differently to other arrivals with less time in quarantine than current requirements, or none, depending on where they're from, which doesn't make sense.

 

[drron]

Yes and business travel can't start until the gov says its ok to leave. Many countries are now happy to have Australians without restrictions. So the hold point seems to be exiting the country. It makes more sense to simply have appropriate quarantine requirements upon return - for all. My point is that it appears as though international students will be treated differently to other arrivals with less time in quarantine than current requirements, or none, depending on where they're from, which doesn't make sense.

Yes non citizens,including International students,can be allowed in when citizens are allowed to leave.And with the same conditions-pay for 14 days quarantine on arrival into Australia.