First international flight in two years has reunited Adelaide loved ones

After two years, Adelaide Airport has welcomed the first flight of international visitors, and there were plenty of hugs and tears as borders reopened.

The borders have come down and South Australia has welcomed visitors from overseas for the first time after two years of Covid lockdown.

On Monday morning, the first flight from Singapore landed in Adelaide Airport, where there were hugs and tears as the 236 passengers emerged, most to be reunited with friends and family.

Nine inbound flights are expected to touch down in Adelaide this week, and all travellers are required to be fully vaccinated and have a negative RAT test before they arrive.

Byron Son hugs his fiancee Anastasia Golovanova from Russia, as she arrives on the first international in more than two years at Adelaide Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Byron Son has spent two years separated from his fiancee Anastasia Golovanova after they met in 2019 when they were studying in Japan.

“We said our goodbyes not expecting things to kick off the way that they did. She went back to Russia and I went back to Australia saying we would see each other in six months,” said Mr Son.

After years of separation and uncertainty, the lovestruck couple simply embraced and were lost for words.

“I don’t have a word to do it justice. If I pick a word I will regret it, because it won’t quite feel like it’s done enough to describe the feeling,” Mr Son said.

Sophie Kitchen was met by her parents Doug and Helen Kitchen – whom she hasn’t seen in more than two years – as 236 passengers arrived on the first flight at Adelaide Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Sophie Kitchen has spent the past two years separated from family after relocating to Germany for work, just prior to borders closing.

Miss Kitchen says that the isolation took a toll on her, “especially the first six months”.

“It was really hard, I had just moved to a new country and then the country went into lockdown so it was a lot of time by myself,” she said.

“I’m really happy to be back again, especially to be back in Adelaide.

“I am just hoping my family can come to see my life over there too.”

Emotional scenes erupted as Miss Kitchen was reunited with her father, Douglas, and mother, Helen, after what had been a stressful two years for the family.

“It’s so great to have our daughter back, to have the family back together after this amount of time is fantastic,” said Douglas Kitchen.

Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox says that the return of international flights is a “critical step in rebuilding our state’s connections with the world”.

“It’s vital for our tourism economy and equally vital for our education sector as thousands of international students look to return to SA to resume their studies.

“We know that as borders re-open, South Australians will become increasingly energised and excited about exploring the world again”.

Sophie Kitchen hugs her mum Helen on arrival at the Adelaide Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex says that today “was a terrific day for South Australian tourism” with the return of a market which brought in more than “$1.2bn to our state pre-Covid.”

“We’ve been hearing that there is huge demand for people ready to jump on a plane and head Down Under. It means people are reconnecting, travelling and exploring again – and that’s going to drive confidence and jobs,” he said.

“International tourists have a bucket list of things to do in South Australia – new hotels, new experiences, new cellar doors, new restaurants and new reasons to visit our world-class destination.”

Across Australia, 56 international flights are due to arrive this week. The decision taken a fortnight ago to open borders is reported to have sparked a frenzy for travel agents, especially in Britain.