Quarantine end key to Qantas

QANTAS has welcomed the NSW trial of home quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals and flight crew, but has made it clear restrictions need to be eased further to make international flying viable.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the trial of seven-day home quarantine on Friday, to start soon.

To be operated and overseen by NSW Health and NSW police, about 175 people will take part in the trial including returning residents and some non-residents, as well as several Qantas aircrew.

South Australia is also trialling home quarantine.

Qantas, which is planning to resume international flights in December after Australia’s vaccination rate hits 80 per cent, said the NSW announcement was welcome news.

Airline chief Alan Joyce said crews had chalked up months in quarantine since the pandemic started.

“They are all fully vaccinated and it will make a real difference to their lives being able to quarantine in their own home,” Mr Joyce said.

“We’ve been working closely with the federal and NSW governments on how we can safely transition to home quarantine.”