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  • Tue. Nov 5th, 2024

International flights still bring hundreds of people into Brisbane, but why are they travelling?

International flights still bring hundreds of people into Brisbane, but why are they travelling?

More than 250,000 international travellers have touched down in Australia since the borders were closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, new figures obtained by the ABC show.

Key points:

  • About 500 people a day still arrive at Brisbane International Airport
  • Daily arrivals to Brisbane have fallen by 97 per cent
  • More than 200,000 people have arrived in Australia from overseas since March 21

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said more than 357,000 Australian citizens and permanent residents had returned to Australia since the beginning of March.

DFAT has also helped more than 26,000 Australian citizens and permanent residents to return on more than 315 flights, 63 of which were directly facilitated by the Federal Government.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) said between March 21 and June 30 more than 212,000 passengers had arrived from overseas, as it continued to ban foreign nationals who did not meet travel exemptions from entering the country.

Empty departure gates concourse at Brisbane International Airport.

Hundreds arrive at Brisbane International Airport each day, but arrivals are down by 97 per cent.(Instagram: @dshieldlawrence)

Why are these people still travelling?

Many of them are Australian citizens.

Queensland high school teacher Allana Landolfo had been living and working in London, and trying to get home.

“I thought I’d kind of wait and see if things would get better, which we all thought were going to in a month or so,” she said.

Ms Landolfo said with cases of COVID-19 continuing to r

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