Melbourne, Sydney to start quarantine-free overseas travel next month

More than 14 million Australians will be able to leave and re-enter the country without quarantining if they are fully vaccinated from next month as Melbourne and Sydney take the first steps towards reopening to the world and Qantas brings forward the restart of international flights.

A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and Singapore could be established within the next week, with an agreement between the countries in its final stages, ahead of a planned wider unlocking of the nation’s borders before Christmas.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce revealed Australians could be travelling to Bali by early 2022 “at the latest” as the carrier announced it was resuming flights from Melbourne and Sydney to destinations including London, Singapore, Bangkok and Johannesburg ahead of schedule.

Singapore Airlines also started selling tickets for flights between Singapore and Melbourne on Friday evening.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday confirmed fully vaccinated international travellers flying to Melbourne would not have to quarantine from November 1, bringing his state into line with NSW.

Parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents will also be able to apply for an exemption to travel to Australia from that date.

Source: smh.com.au