COVID-19: NSW cuts international arrivals by 50% from 1500 to 750 per week temporarily

Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Premier has cut the number of international arrivals in half due to the staff costs of thousands of police and health workers required to run the hotel quarantine program which only records a few COVID-19 positive cases.

Presumably, these resources can be better deployed on policing health restrictions and used at testing and vaccination centres.

The Premier also said the cut to international arrivals was only temporary, lasting for a month. She is prepared to look at home quarantine once the state reaches vaccination targets – now expected in mid-October.

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.

This is not good for international repatriations, or for airlines flying into Australia.

Interestingly this decision appears based on economics, not health advice.