Qantas have announced three weekly return Canberra to Adelaide direct flights starting this week, however it is still unknown when the South Australian border will open to ACT residents.
Following an announcement from the South Australian Premier on Tuesday, the original date of 20 July marked to open the borders to residents in Victoria, NSW and ACT is being reconsidered.
The flights will begin from this Friday 3 July.
Canberra Airport Head of Aviation Michael Thompson said the Canberra to Adelaide flights were still a step in the right direction for the Territory.
“The more destinations that open and more opportunity for people to travel for business and leisure,” he said.
“I think what it means is there is probably two groups or people that will travel immediately. Ones that have an exemption or a reason to travel whether that be through business, necessity or government.
“It will also mean people who need to be back either in Canberra or Adelaide and are prepared to do the self-quarantine period will travel, although there is no need for that upon entering in the ACT.”
In another travel announcement on Tuesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed borders would be open to all residents excluding Victoria from 10 July.
Travel from this time will be accepted without a self-quarantine period unless a person has been in Victoria in the 14 days prior.
Mr Thompson said he was pleased to see more states opening their borders.
“We currently do have flights into Queensland and there are a number going up but it will change the dynamic of that flight and we will probably see an increase in people’s decision to go up there,” he said.
“It will come just in time for the last week of the school holidays if people want to get up there and have some sun.”
Flights from Canberra to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport will also begin from this Friday 3 July.
Mr Thompson said he would like to see a continued increase in demand for domestic travel.
“We have seen every week since the depths of the pandemic there has been a gradual increase,” he said.
“It’s still a long way down but we are seeing more people flying pretty much every week.
“Flights are increasing incrementally; we are seeing every week additional flights coming on such as the one to Adelaide.”
