Around twice as many people are still flying out of Australia despite COVID-19 travel restrictions, compared to the number of passengers who are managing to secure flights back home.
Key points:
- Almost 40,000 Australians stranded overseas want to come home but have been unable to secure flights
- Australian Airports Association CEO James Goodwin said Australia should use its military aircraft and bases to repatriate citizens
- Despite this, there have been more passengers leaving the country than arriving since March 2020
An ABC analysis of the latest government data reveals that in 2020, outbound passenger movements continued to outpace arrivals, in some months by a factor of three to one.
It is unclear how many of the departing passengers held Australian passports, but it is feared more pressure will be placed on hotel quarantine arrangements when some eventually decide to return.
Almost 40,000 Australians stranded overseas have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as wanting to come home but have so far been unable to secure return flights.
"The list is growing with more and more Australians leaving the country," warned Australian Airports Association CEO James Goodwin.
Since March 25 last year, Australians have been banned from leaving the country unless they receive a formal exemption from the Australian Border Force Commissioner for reasons such as compassionate grounds.
On March 20, the Federal Government also banned all non-citizens who failed to meet limited travel exemptions from being allowed to enter Australia.
According to figures produced by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics, more than 46,000 people flew out of Australia in August last year, while just over 15,000 arrived.
A similar three-to-one ratio of outgoing passengers compared to incoming passengers was recorded in September, while in October departures almost doubled the number of arrivals into Australia.
In April, the month immediately after the international travel ban was announced, 53,000 passengers flew out of Australia compared to just over 16,000 who arrived here.
Mr Goodwin said the Federal Government should now consider using military aircraft and bases to help repatriate and quarantine the thousands of citizens who remain stranded overseas.
"The Australian Government could look at using military sites, the Australian Border Force facilities and I'm sure any Australian stranded overseas would be more than happy to quarantine in those facilities if it enables them to come home," he said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTAxLTA3L2F1c3RyYWxpYS1mbGlnaHQtYXJyaXZhbHMtZGVwYXJ0dXJlcy1kdXJpbmctY29yb25hdmlydXMtcGFuZGVtaWMvMTMwMzcyOTDSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTMwMzcyOTA?oc=5
2021-01-06 19:01:00Z
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