CoViD-19: Tasmania opens to NSW as of 6 November 2020

Another border opens for those of us who live in New South Wales. We can now travel to Tasmania as of Friday 6 November. That’s because in the eyes of the Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, NSW is now classified as ‘low-risk’.

Tasmania has set less than 5 unknown cases in a 28 day period as ‘low-risk’. NSW is sitting at 6, but who’s counting?

Target Date

Friday 6 November is just a target date at this stage, but it means residents of NSW can enter Tasmania without serving 14 days quarantine.

Flights

Currently only Jetstar and Virgin service Hobart and Launceston with direct flights. They don’t always run direct flights every day, although that might change once the opening date to NSW is confirmed.

Expect to pay around AU$230 to AU$270 for return flights to Hobart, and around AU$200 for flights to Launceston.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

As of 6 November, residents of NSW can fly to all states without quarantine, except Queensland and Western Australia.

Expect Queensland to open up very soon after the state election on 31 October, and only those weird separatist Western Australians know when they will open their borders.