Victoria to resume international flights after Easter

Melbourne, Australia - December 10, 2016: Melbourne airport check-in zone

International travel into Melbourne is set to be up and running again in April, six weeks after flights were halted following a COVID-19 outbreak in February.

Overseas flights into Melbourne will resume on 8 April, according to the Age, with a new cap on international arrivals of 800 per week, 320 fewer than before the February outbreak.

This number is expected to grow to 1,120 per week by mid-April, according to the Guardian.

This comes as the government relaunches its hotel quarantine program following a major review after airflow in hotel quarantine rooms was blamed for the Holiday Inn outbreak that sent Melbourne into its third lockdown.

According to ABC News, more than 4,000 quarantine workers have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, improved PPE rules have been rolled out and three hotels are now ready to take passengers.

However, the state is still bound by the federal government’s restrictions on who can enter Australia from overseas, with only Australian citizens, permanent residents of Australia and immediate family members of Australian citizens allowed to enter the country.

“We’ve taken [the] action and time necessary to ensure we have the most rigorous quarantine system possible in place to protect against these highly infectious, rapidly changing variants of concern,” acting Premier James Merlino told ABC News.

“The challenges of this virus will be with us for some time to come, that’s why we’ve listened to the advice of experts and made the necessary changes to ensure we’re keeping Victorians safe.”

Victoria entered a five-day snap lockdown to combat a COVID-19 cluster that was linked to the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport in 12 February.

The announcement comes as the state marks its 27th say without local transmission.


Image: iStock/Katharina13

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]