Direct flights from Melbourne to Darwin have NT authorities on alert

FIVE direct flights from coronavirus-riddled Melbourne will land in Darwin despite the Victorian city being in lockdown, with the first due to touch down in the Top End today

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FIVE direct flights from coronavirus-riddled Melbourne will land in Darwin despite the Victorian city being in lockdown, with the first due to touch down in the Top End today.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the government was working directly with Jetstar to make sure travellers were aware of NT’s rules before they boarded the planes, with Territory authorities also getting advice from Queensland on how it was keeping Victorians and other risky travellers from slipping through its borders.

“There is a large chance that many of those passengers are connecting in from Adelaide or other places and doing that straight travel through and that airport is where they are choosing to get on that flight,” he said.

Interstate travellers arrive at Darwin International Airport in April. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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A Sydney flight via Alice Springs landed in Darwin on Wednesday, with a direct flight from Sydney and another via Alice Springs land in Darwin yesterday.

NT Airports said all passengers who had moved through a COVID-19 declared hotspot would be directed to a separate area to pick up their bags and taken via bus to a quarantine facility from today.

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From today, it will be mandatory for airport staff and contractors to wear masks inside the airport and extra security guards will be rostered on to facilitate the screening process.

Only people with a boarding pass will be allowed in to arrival and departure lounges at Alice Springs Airport, with the measure to be policed by security guards.

“Passengers may experience some delays when passing through our airports,” a spokesman said.