Emotional scenes at Gold Coast Airport as couples and families reunite after Queensland’s COVID-19 border closures were lifted
Gold Coasters were already wiping tears from their eyes as a screen in the domestic terminal announced a flight from Sydney had touched down after border closures lifted.
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TEARS have flowed at Gold Coast Airport as passengers streamed through the gates for moving reunions with loved ones after Queensland’s border closures were finally lifted.
Victorians and Sydneysiders have now been welcomed back to the state after months of stringent COVID-19 border closures.
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Gold Coasters were already wiping tears from their eyes as a screen in the Bilinga airport’s domestic terminal announced a 9.35am flight from Sydney had touched down.
The joyous scenes only escalated as passengers rushed into the terminal and buried their faces into the shoulders of their loved ones after agonising months of forced separation.
Corporate lawyer Travis Irons reunited with his Ashmore mum Avril Irons, who he had not seen for about six months.
She was beside herself with happiness, dabbed tears from her eyes with a tissue and struggled to put her elation into words.
Mr Irons, who had moved from the Coast to Sydney, introduced his new boyfriend Nick, who had only met Ms Irons over video chat.
“I’m just visiting. This is my new boyfriend and he’s come back today to meet Mum. It’s the first time he’s met her (in person),” he said.
“It’s kind of scary. I was nervous, it’s my new boyfriend my parents have never met. He met Mum on Facetime once or twice, but that was about it.”
Mr Irons said he booked flights within 20 minutes of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing the borders would be opened.
“It was pretty exciting – I was scared I wouldn’t be able to get back before Christmas,” he said.
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Mr Irons said there was a colourful farewell at the terminal before he jetted out of Sydney.
“There was drinks, a guy playing a guitar singing I Am Australian. It was very nice,” he said.
“It was exciting to come home and you felt like everyone felt the same.”
Mr Irons said passengers on the flight were enthusiastic to touch down on the Coast.
A small crowd was on hand at the airport to welcome travellers, waving signs which read: “You can’t do this on Facetime” and simply “Welcome back”.
Construction worker Yonni Paul reunited with his wife Carlina Paul, wrapping her in a big hug as the Emerald Lakes pair soaked in the surreal moment.
Mr Paul was looking forward to seeing their three children aged between 10-20 after four months of separation.
“I work in Sydney at Darling Harbour, in construction. Once the border shut I couldn’t really get home,” he said.
“It’s been really tough. It’s been so tough. Phone calls and Facetime, that really got us through.
“There was a lot of excited people on the flight.”
Mrs Paul said: “I didn’t really believe it was all going to happen until he was on the plane, actually”.
She said it felt like she would never be reunited with her husband.
“It’s like ‘am I ever going to see you again’,” she said.
The pair were visibly ecstatic and could barely stop grinning, in scenes somewhat reminiscent of popular romantic comedy flick Love Actually.
The return of the southern visitors marks a gleeful turning point for the embattled tourism industry on the Gold Coast, which has haemorrhaged billions of dollars in expenditure.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said the airport’s team was prepping for the busiest month since March.
Regular services to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Perth have all resumed after border restrictions eased for Sydney and Victoria from 1am. Parts of South Australia remained Queensland Government-designated hotspots on Tuesday.
“Today is an important milestone in the recovery for Gold Coast Airport and all the businesses we support, which have been impacted by the dramatic reduction in flights and passengers since late March,” Mr Mills said.
“We had 34 return flights last week and this week there will be 56 return flights between Sydney and Melbourne alone, so the increase is significant.
“By the end of this month we will see close to 100 return flights a week between the Gold Coast and Sydney and about 60 between the Gold Coast and Melbourne.
“We are expecting more passengers in December than we welcomed in the previous eight months combined.
“The increase in visitors we are seeing from today will be a welcome boost for the tourism industry leading into the peak holiday period and allow friends and families to reconnect at Christmas.”
Mr Mills said it would take time for passenger numbers to reach pre-COVID-19 levels.
“We have been operating at five per cent of usual capacity or less for the past several months,” he said.
“Today is certainly a turning point in terms of our recovery, but there is an ongoing need for consistent and transparent border decisions, giving people the confidence to travel and sufficient time to plan.”
Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan said more flights and enhanced airline connectivity was needed to rebuild the city’s $6 billion tourism economy.
“Demand for travel, particularly for families wanting to visit the Gold Coast continues to be high, so we must capitalise on our brand equity as a market leader and preferred holiday destination,” he said.
“Gold Coast’s largest ever $3.5 million tourism campaign is currently in market and we remain committed to capturing the hearts, minds and wallets of travellers to come and play in Australia’s favourite playground.
“Sydneysiders and Melburnians are high-spending travellers who holiday longer and spend more for the benefit of operators, hoteliers, restaurants and attractions.
“They’ve been missed, and we are delighted to welcome them back.”
COVID-19 hygiene and other measures continue at the airport and passengers must not travel if they are unwell.
Reunions at the airport coincided with the removal of contentious road border checkpoints, encouraging a flood of visitors and buoying the Coolangatta-Tweed border towns, which have been severely inconvenienced by the closures.
Across the southern Gold Coast, residents were heard rejoicing the relaxed border conditions.
Customers at a Tugun service station were seen excitedly chatting about the changes, with one woman chuckling that driving straight over without a border pass almost felt like enacting “revenge” on the State Government.
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