Australia Pacific Aviation Outlook Panel – Borders and bubbles dominate the news

As cases have come down in Australia, we’ve started to see more states lift their domestic border restrictions. This has led airlines to increase interstate flying with a corresponding uptick in domestic capacity projections. 

Internationally, there has been very little change in border restrictions however the hope of travel bubbles is starting to emerge. There have been significant moves towards restoring trans-Tasman travel between Australia and New Zealand. Until very recently it was looking as if this wouldn’t happen this year, but now Australia has taken the first steps by allowing travellers from New Zealand to enter New South Wales and the Northern Territory without quarantine. While it is not expected that further bubbles will be created till 2021, many carriers are beginning to prepare for this and their own bubbles.

• What impact will Rex have on domestic trunk routes once state borders are completely open?
• What travel bubbles will be created with Australia and New Zealand in 2021?
• Which are carriers doing to prepare for the opening of borders?
• Will demand align with expected travel bubbles? 

Speakers:

• CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Chairman Emeritus, Peter Harbison
• Board of Airline Representatives of Australia, Executive Director, Barry Abrams
• Regional Express, Deputy Chairman, Hon John Sharp AM