Adelaide-Darwin travellers told midair they’ll have to quarantine, as the NT reintroduces border restrictions for SA

PASSENGERS on two flights from Adelaide that arrived at Darwin International Airport this morning have been quarantined after the NT once again closed its border with SA.

• NT brings in mandatory quarantine for SA residents after cluster outbreak
• Northern Territory to reopen borders to Melbourne in two weeks

GIRRAWEEN resident John Bonnin was waiting at Darwin Airport on Monday morning for his 19-year-old son Tom to arrive home from a quick holiday in Adelaide.

His son, whose flight left Adelaide before Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced South Australia an immediate hot spot, will now have to quarantine at Howard Springs for 14 days.

John Bonnin awaits the arrival of his 19-year-old son Tom on a flight from Adelaide at Darwin International Airport. Picture: Che Chorley

John Bonnin sees his son Tom Bonnin and friend Kale Quinlan before the pair head into mandatory quarantine. Picture: Che Chorley

“He may have stayed another day or two (in Adelaide) but he just decided last night to get on a plane, booked it about 11 and got on at 6am this morning,” Mr Bonnin said.

“He thought that’d be fine and on the way here my wife called and said ‘we’ve got a problem, they are taking about quarantine’.

“He’ll stay here, he’s got nothing to get to in South Australia. It’d be great if he could home quarantine … but I imagine they’ll say no.”

Two flights were arriving at Darwin International Airport from Adelaide today at 9.30am and 9.38am. Pictured are police awaiting the arrival of passengers for transfer to Howard Springs. Picture: Che Chorley

Two flights were arriving at Darwin International Airport from Adelaide today at 9.30am and 9.38am. Pictured are police awaiting the arrival of passengers for transfer to Howard Springs. Picture: Che Chorley

Mr Bonnin owns The Boatshed Cafe in Cullen Bay and said it was the right move for the Territory.

“I get what Gunner’s doing and support him trying to keep it out, because imagine what would happen to businesses if it did get here,” he said.

“If it were to get here it would devastate business and we’ve had a great run.”

Passengers from two flights from Adelaide arriving at Darwin International Airport this morning, QF860 and JQ692, have been quarantined after the NT once again closed its borders to SA. Passengers were in the air when the decision was made, and were given the option to return to Adelaide or quarantine for two weeks in Howard Springs. Picture: Che Chorley

Passengers from two flights from Adelaide arriving at Darwin International Airport this morning, QF860 and JQ692, have been quarantined after the NT once again closed its borders to SA. Passengers were in the air when the decision was made, and were given the option to return to Adelaide or quarantine for two weeks in Howard Springs. Picture: Che Chorley

One returned traveller, who did not want to be named, said he would be quarantining at Howard Springs.

The Darwin resident travelled to South Australia for a family member’s birthday.

He said the planeload of passengers was told of the hot spot news while on the flight to Darwin.

“When we were on the plane (being told) people were like, ‘oh f**k’, someone cried,” he said.

“Everyone has sort of accepted it.”

Passengers from two flights from Adelaide arriving at Darwin International Airport this morning, QF860 and JQ692, have been quarantined after the NT once again closed its borders to SA. Passengers were in the air when the decision was made, and were given the option to return to Adelaide or quarantine for two weeks in Howard Springs. Picture: Che Chorley

Passengers from two flights from Adelaide arriving at Darwin International Airport this morning, QF860 and JQ692, have been quarantined after the NT once again closed its borders to SA. Passengers were in the air when the decision was made, and were given the option to return to Adelaide or quarantine for two weeks in Howard Springs. Picture: Che Chorley

He said officials and the Department of Health had so far been fantastic in dealing with the situation.

Two flights touched down in Darwin from Adelaide on Monday morning within half an hour or each other.

Two more, QF858 and VA1741, are due to arrive in Alice Springs on Monday afternoon, also within half on hour of each other.

A family briefly catches up over barriers before heading into quarantine. Picture: Che Chorley

A family briefly catches up over barriers before heading into quarantine. Picture: Che Chorley

Mr Gunner announced on Monday morning that SA had been declared an immediate COVID-19 hot spot which means major implications for passengers already in the air on those planes

Following Mr Gunner’s announcement that South Australia will become an immediate hot spot, passengers will have the choice to quarantine at Howard Springs for 14 days or return to Adelaide.

Those who choose to quarantine will not incur the $2500 quarantine cost.

South Australia is currently dealing with its worst COVID-19 cluster with 17 new cases.

In a statement regarding its flights to and from Adelaide, Qantas advised customers had the option to move their flights and the airline would likely be reducing services to and from SA.

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“All customers booking on Qantas and Jetstar domestic flights already have the flexibility to move their flight without paying a change fee should they no longer wish to travel,” the statement read.

“With isolation or quarantine requirements changing for travellers from South Australia in a

number of states and territories, we have already seen a number of customers booked to travel

to and from Adelaide in the next few days take up this option.

“We are looking at what impact these changes will have on our schedule, but it’s likely we’ll be reducing flights to and from Adelaide for the next few weeks.”

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Originally published as Adelaide-Darwin travellers told midair they’ll have to quarantine, as the NT reintroduces border restrictions for SA