Coronavirus: Southerners pour into Queensland after border reopening

Thousands of people have poured into Queensland following the relaxation of border restrictions for the first time in eight months.

Christine and Michael Preece with daughter Stephanie and new granddaughter Charlotte, who arrived on the first Melbourne flight into Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

Grandfathers cried, mothers wept and hugs replaced elbow taps as Queensland’s border finally ­reopened to Sydney and Victoria and a flood of arrivals poured through the gates of Brisbane ­Airport.

More than 10,000 people ­landed in the state on Tuesday on a steady stream of flights from the south, all at near-capacity.

For Brisbane’s Christine and Michael Preece, it was the first time they had met daughter Stephanie’s first born, three-month-old Charlotte, on the first flight of the day from Melbourne.

“There’s a lot of firsts, it’s so e­xciting,” said Mrs Preece. “We’re so happy to see them.”

Sunshine Coast resident Col Binding joked he had feared he might not get to meet his grandson Ted until he was 18, as Vic­toria’s COVID crisis dragged on.

“It’s wonderful (to hold him),” he said as he nursed the 11-week-old alongside his relieved daughter Lauren Somers.

Ms Somers said she was looking forward to an “indefinite stay” in Queensland. “I haven’t booked a return flight. It’s just so good to be here at last,” she said.

Sydneysiders have not been ­allowed to travel into Queensland since July and Victorians have been banned since the end of March, creating huge pent-up ­demand. A Virgin Australia spokesman said close to 100,000 seats had been booked on flights into Queensland since the border announcement was made, with Melbourne-Brisbane the most popular route followed by Sydney-Brisbane.

Grandfather Col Binding (R) meets his grandson Ted for the first time, with daughter Lauren Somers, after both Ted and Lauren arrived on the first flight to Brisbane from Melbourne since the Queensland border reopened. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images

Gold Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills said it was an exciting day for his team, who were now preparing for their busiest month since March. “We had 34 return flights last week and this week there will be nearly 80 return flights between Sydney and Melbourne alone,” Mr Mills said.

“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.”

Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker said the border reopening would see 32,000 people pass through the terminal this week, up from a low of 544 in April.

For Qantas the Queensland border reopening meant an extra 1200 staff returned to work, with the airline hopeful of reaching 60 per cent of pre-COVID ­capacity by Christmas. Virgin Australia faced a slower ramp-up due to its reduced fleet but CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said there was strong ­demand for flights.

“The broader economic contribution that open borders will bring cannot be underestimated in what has been the most difficult year for many businesses, particularly in the tourism and hospitality industries,” she said.