PNG travel ban expected to end in December
Cairns could welcome back international flights after next month, in good news for travellers from Papua New Guinea despite that nation’s spiralling Covid-19 outbreaks.
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CAIRNS could welcome back international flights after next month, in good news for travellers from Papua New Guinea despite that nation’s spiralling Covid-19 outbreaks.
Flights from PNG were cancelled indefinitely back in March, but the date has now been set for flights to resume after December 31 following initial concerns Air Niugini would be unable to start travel until March 26 next year.
“We understand the Prime Minister has agreed to restrict arrivals from PNG until December, based on health advice,” a state government spokesman said.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the federal government had been waiting on an answer from the state government on whether travel should resume.
Mr Entsch said the federal government requested a response by October 18 but received no answer.
It then issued a letter on October 23 saying Air Niugini would be unable to start flights until March 26, 2022.
The Premier finally responded on Wednesday last week and asked for the new December 31 start date to be set.
“They amended the advice to reflect what the state government requested,” Mr Entsch said.
“All of this would have been totally absolutely avoided if the state government responded in a timely manner.”
Air Niugini CEO Bruce Alabaster was thrilled to hear flights could kick off again after December.
“Cairns has a strong affiliation with PNG so there will be a lot of Australians working up in PNG who would like to get back to Cairns,” he said.
“There will be a lot of Papua New Guineans who haven’t seen their family for two years.”
Mr Alabaster said most Australians had been re-entering the country via NSW because they could not return to Queensland.
Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker said it was fantastic news.
“There are quite a few people who are workers in PNG,” he said.
“The key thing with the approval is it will enable families to be reunited and the resumption of trade links between the two countries.”
It is understood there will still be quarantine requirements in place as per Queensland’s roadmap of hitting 90 per cent vaccination before there are no restrictions.
Mr Barker said the airport would put any necessary protocols in place in line with Queensland Health directives.
PNG is still battling cases averaging more than 200 a week. It has reported 29,108 total cases to date and so far administered 315,271 vaccine cases which is roughly 3.5 per cent of its population. However the Covid figures are expected to be higher since the census in 2011 was a failure.
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