The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has welcomed Qantas’ ongoing development of its domestic and international networks as an important driver in the recovery of Australia’s Visitor Economy.
AFTA says confirmation that a negative pre-departure COVID test will no longer be required from 18 April for fully vaccinated travellers entering Australia will be a welcome boost in the country’s #ArrivalRevival.
Qantas and Jetstar’s new routes are also giving the sector hope, with the airlines reporting that they’re on track to hit 40 per cent of their combined pre-COVID international capacity this month.
“The widespread recognition of Qantas as Australia’s national carrier means this expanded capacity and connectivity will add weight here and overseas to the all-important message that Australia is open again to visitors,” said Dean Long, CEO AFTA.
“News that fully vaccinated travellers can now enter Australia without needing a negative pre-departure COVID test from 18 April is another welcome boost to confidence which we expect to see result in increased levels of Australians travelling overseas as well as increased arrivals.”
However, as recent data analysis from The International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows, Asia-Pacific airlines saw their January international traffic climb 124.4% compared to January 2021, down significantly from the 138.5% gain registered in December 2021 versus December 2020.
Capacity rose 54.4% and the load factor was up 14.7 percentage points to 47.0%, still the lowest among region.
“It is still a long hard road to recovery for Australia’s Travel and Tourism Sector. Even if everything continues to go right, our sector will not start to normalise before the end of this year,” Long continued.
“In the meantime, we ask Australians to book through their local Australian travel professionals whether online or direct.”
“Over 70% of all international travel out of Australia pre-COVID was booked through an Australian travel retailer and we know the complexities of travel in COVID-time mean the reliance on Australia’s travel professionals will climb as international travel returns to normal.”
For more information, visit www.afta.com.au