Tears as first overseas arrivals land in quarantine-free Qld

Tears have been flowing all morning at Brisbane’s international airport, as the first few flights have landed on the beginning of a new era for overseas travel, where vaccinated arrivals will no longer have to quarantine.

Tearful reunions at Brisbane’s international terminal mimicked scenes of Love Actually as the state welcomed its first quarantine-free overseas arrivals on Saturday morning.

Amongst the first to land was 100 passengers travelling from Singapore on flight VA5667 to the joy of families and friends who’ve been waiting years to be reunited with their loved ones.

Queensland’s ease of border restrictions, which came in on January 22, meant that fully vaccinated arrivals were free to jump into the arms of their families and leave without heading into quarantine.

More than 1000 passengers are expected to pass through the Brisbane international airport on Saturday.

Elsa Katene and Henry Katene are reunited with their daughters Porsha, 19 and Farrah, 17 after three years apart. The daughters were studying in the Philippines.

Three year old Robbie Bannister and his father Mark reunite with their grandfather and father David Bannister after two years apart.

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said today was a good day for Brisbane and for the state.

“This terminal, up until last night consisted of two parts … As you can see today, the terminal is back to where it was before Covid. That feels really good,” he said.

Mr de Graaff said that there was light at the end of the tunnel for Brisbane Airport, however he estimates it will take three to five years for the state’s travel industry to “get back to normal”.

“Australians cannot travel to all countries of the world,” he said.

“That will change, and that’s all good.”

He said on Friday, the Brisbane International Airport had a total of about 500 travellers.

This morning, he said there had already been about 1000, with the first international flight to arrive after restrictions were lifted being an Air New Guinea plane.

Brisbane International Airport has welcomed its first vaccinated arrivals who won't need to quarantine.

From 1am, fully vaccinated arrivals at the state’s international airports were able to simply continue their journey as normal, provided they have received a negative rapid antigen test within 24 hours.

Mandatory 14 days quarantine will continue for unvaccinated travellers.

Minister for Tourism Stirling Hinchliffe said the state would experience a slow build for the tourism industry, but “a welcome one”.

“We need to work closely across the whole of team Queensland and indeed team Australia,” he said.

Originally published as Tears as first overseas arrivals land in quarantine-free Qld