Bombshell letter reveals shock plan to lock down Cairns International Airport

There is a real risk Cairns could lose key international flights if the airport reopening is delayed due to the region’s Covid vaccine rates, the city’s aviation boss has warned. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

THERE is a real risk Cairns could lose key international flights if the airport reopening is delayed due to the region’s Covid vaccine rates, the city’s aviation boss has warned.

A bombshell letter sent from the federal government stating the international airport could remain shut until March 26, to protect vulnerable Far North communities with lagging vaccination rates, sent shockwaves through the industry on Thursday.

Cairns Airport chief executive Richard Barker said routes such as Cairns to Tokyo and Osaka were already being sold by Jetstar for February.

A Jetstar Boeing 787 departs Cairns International Airport for Japan prior to the Covid pandemic. Picture: Brendan Radke.

“Losing flights into Cairns would be a tragedy not only for our airport but the entire tourism and education communities, and would require years and significant investment to recover,” he said.

“If international flights to Cairns open after other parts of the state, we run the risk of airlines establishing permanent routes with other airports.

Mr Barker said it was crucial the international airport opened in line with the rest of the state, or the region risked losing almost $3m a day for the crippled Far North economy.

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The Victorian and New South Wales governments have confirmed fully vaccinated travellers from abroad will be able to fly into Melbourne and Sydney from November 1.

With Covid-19 now endemic in both states, Mr Barker argued the risk of a domestic traveller from the southern capitals was no greater than a fully vaccinated passenger from Tokyo.

“If a fully vaccinated traveller from Melbourne or Sydney can come to Cairns when we reach 80 per cent vaccination and not be required to quarantine, why can’t a fully vaccinated person from Singapore, New Zealand or Japan also be able to come to here and do the same?” he said.

“Cairns Airport needs to be to open to international air travel on the same date as all other international airports in Queensland.”

Air Niugini chief Bruce Alabaster agreed, saying the logic of delaying international travel didn’t add up.

“The simple fact is the risk is exactly the same whether it is from an overseas passenger or someone coming up to Cairns from Victoria or New South Wales,” he said.

“This virus is everywhere in those states, so there is no difference.”

Queensland will throw open its domestic border from December 17.

The Far North economy has already been robbed of $83m worth of international tourism dollars per month since the international borders slammed shut.

The Cairns Airport international terminal could be closed until March 26. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

EARLIER: Cairns will be locked out of international travel until the end of March in a bombshell revelation set to rock the crippled tourism industry.

The damning claim was raised by Air Niugini chief executive officer Bruce Alabaster who said he received a letter from the federal government informing his airline the Cairns international airport would be grounded until March 26.

The letter said the decision was made in consultation with Queensland Health advice and was based on protecting the Indigenous population and low vaccination rates within Far North communities, and the additional strain it could put on resources and infrastructure to manage a potential outbreak.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications correspondence stated:

Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch. Photo: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

“In relation to international arrivals into Cairns, the Queensland Government has advised a suspension of scheduled international passenger arrivals into Cairns continues to be required given the level of available quarantine support and capacity in Cairns.

“The date was chosen to provide additional time for the region to increase vaccination in remote and indigenous communities and allow the region to see how the South East Queensland corridor managed the first wave of international arrivals.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced earlier this month a 90 per cent vaccination target must be reached to allow overseas airlines to resume into Queensland.

The state will reopen its domestic border to the rest of the country on December 17, or if 80 per cent of the population are double dosed.

A spokeswoman from the Premier’s department said the state had not consulted with the federal government on delaying the restart of international flights and “would welcome the opportunity to discuss the appropriate date” for their return.

Planes grounded at the Cairns International Airport. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The faster Queenslanders are fully vaccinated the faster borders can open for everyone,” she said.

Mr Albaster said the proposed international ban applied to all overseas passengers until March 26.

“You hope that this is being used as a place holder to give the state and federal government some leeway. That is what we are hoping,” he said.

“We hope it will change when we hit vaccination targets.”

Mr Entsch, who was contacted by Mr Alabaster, said the hold up could be the death knell for a number of stressed attraction and reef operators who rely on overseas bookings.

He believes communities such as Yarrabah, near Cairns, and rural Cape York towns, which had been hesitant to get the jab, should be locked down while “the rest of the Far North gets on with it.”

“If these guys want to believe in social media and all the crap that goes with it when it comes to vaccinations, that is up to them,” he said.

“But why should the majority of Queensland continue to be locked out and disadvantaged?

“Why should our businesses in Cairns be crucified?

“There is no excuse for this.”

The Cairns Airport and Tourism Tropical North Queensland have been contacted for comment.

Follow @markcmuzza

Originally published as Bombshell letter reveals shock plan to lock down Cairns International Airport