A4ANZ member airlines, airports cooperate to streamline Australia border reopening

Australia’s major domestic airlines and airports have developed a joint approach to help travellers know what to expect as states and territories prepare to open their borders.

The industry-wide approach is designed to help them navigate various state and territory requirements as they return to travel.

It includes A4ANZ member airline cooperation with Qantas and Jetstar, Air NZ, Virgin Australia and  Rex.

The approach is aligned to the public health orders in each jurisdiction as well as Covid-safe practices that the aviation industry has had in place during most of the pandemic.

New South Wales and Victoria, as the two states scheduled to open their borders to all other jurisdictions first, have already indicated that people will need to be fully vaccinated in order to travel intrastate and interstate for a period of time.

Queensland has now outlined its roadmap with vaccination requirements, and other states and territories are expected to introduce similar requirements as they gradually reopen.

To help streamline the travel experience and keep people safe, the aviation industry has agreed the following measures:

• Pre-booking: Links to the latest information for travel in each state will be available on airline and airport websites.

• Pre-travel: Prior to travel, customers may be sent reminders (via email and SMS) of travel and destination entry requirements, including any permits required.

• Online check-in: Customers will be asked to declare their eligibility to travel

• At the departing airport: Customers may be asked to sign-in using a QR code and (in states that require it) confirm their vaccination status

• At the departing airport: When checking in, customers will be asked to confirm that they comply with government travel requirements (including Covid-19 vaccination, where applicable).

• At the departing airport: Customers will also be asked to sign-in using QR codes to access lounges and may also be asked to show proof of vaccination (where applicable).

• On arrival: Customers should have their documentation ready to show authorised officers.

Other measures, including mandatory mask wearing in terminals and onboard, will remain in place nationwide but may be relaxed in future, especially as national vaccination rates rise.

Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) CEO Alison Roberts said: “No industry is more excited about reopening than aviation. We’ve worked hard over the past 18 months to keep passengers and aviation workers safe, and we’re ready to keep evolving those controls in the months ahead as we enter this new phase.”

“Given different vaccination rates and levels of community transmission around Australia, we know that conditions will phase in and out at different times in different parts of the country.”

“We’re encouraging governments to align their requirements as much as possible to avoid a patchwork of rules nationwide.”

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