Hugs and wide smiles, the Territory has officially reopened

Joy was in the air at Darwin Airport on Monday the Territory’s borders opened up to the rest of the country.

FAMILIES from around the country were reunited at Darwin Airport on Monday as border rules changed significantly in the Northern Territory.

Vaccinated arrivals, who must present a negative Covid test and agree to be tested on days three and six of being in the NT, touched down on flights from mid-morning and were welcomed by friends and family after spending months apart.

Mother Xiamei Yu and her daughter Shuhan Li, 18 months, were reunited with their husband and father Menglong Li after being separated for forty days due to border closures.

Ms Yu said she had been looking forward to the family being back together as one and was “excited”.

The Li Family Xiamei, Menglong and Shuhan reunited as the first flights from Sydney arrive at Darwin International Airport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

When the NT News asked Mr Li how he felt being with his family after being separated for more than a month, speechless, he responded, “how do you imagine”.

The family were heading home to have lunch together and were “really happy”.

At a press conference on Monday, Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison welcomed new travellers to the Territory but warned them of major delays in receiving results PCR test results due to the spike of cases in the south.

“This means that some people entering the Territory in the coming days who did the right thing and got their PCR tests 72 hours before arrival may not get the result back before they land,” Ms Manison said.

“Anyone entering the Territory without a test result will have to isolate pending their result.

“They will have the option of getting a PCR test when they arrive in the Territory.

“As soon as they get a result, whether from here or interstate, they will be free to leave isolation and enjoy their stay.”

Ms Manison asked travellers and Territorians to remain patient during the Christmas period.

“The chief health officer direction also has sensible procedures in place for a person to self administer a RAT (rapid antigen test) instead of a PCR test, in place when PCR testing is not available,” she said.

After arriving from her Sydney flight, Jenny Baird from Corrimal in NSW said she was thrilled to see her family again.

Jenny Baird flew to see family as the first flights from Sydney arrive at Darwin International Airport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

She said her heart was full when her 12-year-old granddaughter “did a little dance when she saw me and found me”.

Ms Baird said her family plans were to “have a lovely Christmas together, go out and have a picnic maybe and to just be in each others company”.

She said her trip was organised at the very “last minute” because she didn’t know “what was going on” with border restrictions and the recent introduction of the Omicron variant.

“But I’m here now and that’s the main thing,” Ms Baird said.

She said three quarters of the seats on the flight were filled, “the plane was not full by any means, lots of empty seats”.

Also arriving on the Sydney flight was Jack Breckenridge, who said he had been trying to get up to the Northern Territory for a couple of weeks to see his brother who he hadn’t seen for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures.

“We’ll see what my brother has planned for us, we’ll just spend time with each other until I fly home on December 23,” Mr Breckenridge said.

Excited to be reunited with his brother again, Mr Breckenridge travelled all the way from the south coast of NSW to spend time with his brother for only two days.

“It’s been a longtime and I’ve got a nephew I haven’t met who is two,” he said.

Mr Breckenridge described the process of entering the Territory as “very painless”.

There was a moment of panic for Mr Breckenridge when his PCR test hadn’t returned in time for his flight.

“I was actually really concerned about what would happen at this end (Darwin Airport) and that it was really going to affect us,” he said.

“But they’ve actually got a really good system, they give you a rapid antigen test, you take that and isolate until you get your results.”

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the NT government had worked hard to strike the right balance between opening up and keeping Territory communities safe.

“Leading up to Christmas, it’s important for family and friends to have that chance to reunite in a Covid-19 safe way,” Ms Fyles said.

“The whole country is now entering a new phase of dealing with this pandemic, where the virus will gradually become endemic, as we learn to live with Covid as a highly-vaccinated society.”

Ms Fyles said she wanted to thank every Territorian who had rolled up their sleeve to get vaccinated.

Airport Development Group aviation development manager Allan Woo said the Darwin Airport was expecting strong travel demand over the upcoming Christmas period, with the majority of travellers reconnecting with visiting family and friends.

Flights from Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne were also due to touchdown in the Territory on Monday evening.