Federal government to limit overseas arrivals at Sydney Airport
The federal government will cap overseas arrivals into Sydney Airport at 450 people per day as NSW faces pressure on its capacity to quarantine returned travellers.
International travellers seeking entry to Australia have been warned to check their itineraries with their airlines. The changes affect incoming flights from midnight on Saturday.
The new limits, which were requested by the NSW government, also restrict each incoming flight to a maximum of 50 passengers. The restrictions will last until July 17 with the possibility of extension.
Passengers arriving at Sydney International Airport being transported to hotel quarantine in April.Credit:Rhett Wyman
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smart Traveller website says the Victorian government’s request to pause all international passenger flights into Melbourne for two weeks placed pressure on Sydney’s quarantine facilities.
“If you’re scheduled to fly into Sydney in the coming days and weeks, confirm your itinerary and onward travel plans with your airline,” it says.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Queensland government's decision to charge for hotel quarantine had also meant some returning travellers changed their plans to arrive in NSW instead.
"The Commonwealth government’s intervention now will hopefully ensure that the quarantine model operating in NSW will continue to work for the benefit of NSW residents and returning passengers," Mr Hazzard said.
"It is crucial that the volume of returning passengers not overrun the capacity of NSW Health to meet and assess every international passenger at Sydney Airport and not exhaust Health, Police and ADF resources to manage our quarantine hotels."
The Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom said in a statement that it anticipated international flights into Sydney from London would be disrupted.
“This will mean some flights may no longer be viable and therefore will not operate,” the statement said.
It advised prospective travellers to confirm their itineraries with their airline and to check the High Commission’s Facebook page for updates.