AFTA UPDATE

From Dean Long, CEO

Last week we saw passports take lead news items on all major media networks, with the rapid increase of renewal applications from those that let them expire during the pandemic.

AFTA is a leading industry voice on the Australian Passport Office (APO) Industry Liaison Committee and has been strongly advocating for an increase in resources.

While it is easy to say the system has failed, I know firsthand that the APO did increase resources prior to this surge, which unfortunately far exceeded everyone’s expectations.

AFTA will continue to work with the APO on improving messaging, but as part of the travel sector, we must remind people to submit their renewals and check their passports.

Last Mon, Australians landed in America without the need for a pre-departure COVID-19 test.

The USA was Australia’s third most popular destination prior to COVID-19 and this represents another important milestone in our recovery.

As I have stated here many times, we know our clients are looking for destinations that don’t have restrictions in place.

Two of our five most popular destinations now have the same requirements as Australia, that is, you have had at least two doses of the vaccine. While I would surely like to take credit for the lifting of these restrictions following our letters earlier this month, it was the hard work of our American sister organisations that had the greatest impact.

With the lowering of these restrictions, I am hopeful that it will encourage Qantas, United and American to now aggressively increase the supply on these critical routes.

The average return Business class air ticket on this route now ranges between $12,000 and close to $18,000.

In our recent review of the figures published by the Federal Government, overall aviation capacity was still 73% lower than 2019 levels.

While travel companies continue to source the best value for its clients, we know for many without a significant increase in supply, these prices will keep many from returning to travel.