New South Wales Opens To Quarantine Free Travel
October 18, 2021
Air Niugini is pleased to advise customers that New South Wales (NSW) has announced quarantine free travel for international arriving passengers from 1st November 2021. This will initially be limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and special visa holders. We do expect this to extend to business travellers and tourists soon after.
Air Niugini has therefore fully opened PX001 on Monday’s Port Moresby to Sydney for sale from 1st November. Additional flights will depend on the number of passengers booking onto the Monday service.
Passengers travelling to other States and Territories in Australia are reminded that most inter-state borders with NSW remain closed. Hence arriving into NSW does not permit onwards travel to Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia or Northern Territory even if you spend 14 days or more in NSW. Passengers intending to travel to these destinations still need to book to Brisbane, including having to undertake 14 days hotel quarantine. For travellers destined for Victoria or ACT, the situation is presently uncertain, and Air Niugini will advise whether travel from NSW to these two destinations is going to be allowed, once we are advised.
For quarantine free entry into NSW, passengers must be fully vaccinated and still have to complete a negative PCR test at Port Moresby airport, at time of check-in
Air Niugini has requested confirmation that Australia will recognise the PNG “green card” vaccination certificate. Passengers relying on this as the basis of evidence of vaccination status are welcome to book their flights, but actual uplift will be subject to clarification from Australia on this issue. For passengers who have Australian Medicare numbers, this certificate can be registered onto the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), either by getting your normal GP in Australia to upload the data, or by following the process at https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/health/vaccinations#AIR
At present only fully vaccinated passengers will be approved for uplift on PX001. Unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents can return to Australia on PX003 to Brisbane, but will require 14 days hotel quarantine on arrival. This situation is not expected to change.
Papua New Guineans and other nationalities planning on traveling to Australia, for work, schooling, leisure or to catch-up with wantoks or friends are reminded that it is expected that they must be fully vaccinated prior to being allowed to travel internationally including to Australia. Hence if you do plan any international travel, we recommend you get vaccinated now to avoid disappointment.
Air Niugini continues to operate six flights per week to Brisbane, one flight to Sydney, four flights per week to Singapore, twice weekly to Manila, and twice weekly to Hong Kong. Flights to other locations remain suspended due to international border restrictions.
Wearing of face masks in the terminals and on board the aircraft is mandatory, hand sanitisers are provided for your protection, and social distancing is followed wherever practical in order to ensure your international travel remains as safe as possible.
Ends….
Corporate Communications Department
Monday 18th October 2021