Emotional scenes at Perth Airport as WA border is opened to Australia

There have been incredible scenes at Perth Airport with emotional reunions after Western Australia lifted its hard border after almost two years.

Passengers are greeted by loved ones on arrival at the Perth International Airport Terminal. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Australia’s hardest border has finally fallen after almost 700 days of being closed to the world, with Western Australia welcoming vaccinated visitors from across the country.

Emotional scenes have been captured at Perth Airport as the first arrivals touched down from midnight local time (3am AEDT) as families and friends reunited for the first time in almost two years.

The state slammed shut its borders on April 5, 2020, and enforced harsh border measures for 697 days, isolating itself from the rest of the country.

More than 8000 people are expected to arrive at Perth Airport on Thursday and Friday.

Hugs and tears flooded the arrivals hall early Thursday morning with emotional reunions as travellers ran into the awaiting arms of loved ones.

Returning International passengers are greeted on arrival at the Perth International Airport Terminal. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“I can’t even put into words, I have goosebumps down my whole body,” one traveller told Today.

“I can’t even put into words how it feels to be back in my home after three years of trying to make this moment happen.”

Another woman who had been waiting at the airport was in tears as she hugged her family member.

“We’re just so happy,” she said.

Interstate and overseas travellers must complete a G2G pass before entering WA and take a rapid antigen test within 12 hours of arrival.

Overseas arrivals need to be double vaccinated while domestic arrivals need to have the booster shot.

Any returning Australians who are not vaccinated have to complete seven days of hotel quarantine.

Australia’s hardest border has finally fallen after almost 700 days of being closed to the world. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Premier Mark McGowan took to Facebook late Wednesday night and acknowledged how the hard border had affected many people in a lengthy post.

“The hard border was never about politics, and it was definitely never about the silly notion of secession (from the rest of Australia),” Mr McGowan wrote.

“It was about the value we placed on the lives of Western Australians, and the lengths we were willing to go to in order to protect them.

“It had been over a hundred years since Western Australia last had a hard border to keep out the Spanish flu.

“Putting one in place was not something I thought I would ever have to do as Premier.”

Emotional scenes have been captured at Perth Airport. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

WA was initially supposed to reopen to the country on February 5 after Mr McGowan locked it in “barring some unforeseen emergency or catastrophe which we can’t predict”.

But the unforeseen catastrophe did hit in the form of a rampant Omicron outbreak on the country’s east coast.

Mr McGowan said it “brought a whole new ball game” and he pushed the opening back by a month.

Travellers arriving at Perth Airport from midnight will be handed vouchers ranging from $150 to $2200 as part of the “Gifts from Western Australia” campaign to draw more tourism in.