Chris Frame provides an overview of Aussie efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 at the nation’s airports.
When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be “a public health emergency of international concern” in late January, Australia was among the first nations in the world to enact a series of preventive measures to control the spread of the disease.
These never-before-seen restrictions have resulted in widespread cuts to international flying, while domestic travel has been slashed due to government social distancing requirements that restrict all but essential journeys within the country.
While COVID-19 has impacted almost all elements of our daily lives, this is especially true for the aviation industry. Australia’s airports are facing an unprecedented crisis, as demand for air travel has all but disappeared.
First Signs of Trouble
One of the government’s first moves in response to the initial coronavirus outbreak was to restrict travel to and from mainland China. Visitors from the country make up the largest group of international arrivals to Australia, so the reduction of flights from Chinese cities had an immediate impact on airlines and airports across the country.
Simon Bourke is…
