THERE are likely around 30,000 Australians stranded in the United Kingdom, a number of int’l airlines have told the Board of Airline Representatives of Australia (BARA).
The industry body said under the current int’l arrival caps, which were this week lifted to up to 6,000 per week (TD yesterday), it would likely take well into 2021 to repatriate all Australians, with BARA calling for an increase in quarantine capacity and a “risk-based” approach to COVID-19.
“Many international airlines have been forced to stop selling tickets to Australians to return home until either late Oct or until Dec, including for flights out of the UK, because of the int’l pax arrival caps,” BARA said.
“It is difficult to see how these Australians will be returned home before the end of 2020 under the current caps, which often limit pax numbers to 30 or less.
“The caps on passengers are currently set very tight until 24 Oct, after which date international airlines have no certainty about the arrangements that will apply.”
Key reasons listed for Aussies returning home include the need for medical treatment and kids reuniting with their parents.
BARA also pointed to high fixed costs and fewer pax driving up airfare prices, which is also preventing Australians from returning home.
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Source: traveldaily