A new Public Health Direction will make face masks mandatory for domestic commercial air travel in and out of the ACT, and while in the Canberra Airport, from 11.59pm Friday 22 January 2021.
The direction is in line with the commitment jurisdictions have made to implement this policy for all domestic air travel across Australia, as part of the National Cabinet.
This new Direction will mean people 12 years and above, including workers who interact with the public, must wear face masks while inside the Canberra Airport terminal and during domestic commercial flights in and out of Canberra.
Although face masks will not be required outside the terminal, passengers embarking and disembarking a flight on the tarmac must keep them on.
People will be permitted to remove their face mask to ascertain their identity when going through security or when eating and drinking or taking medication both in the airport terminal and during a flight. They will also be able to remove their mask during an emergency and to communicate effectively, for example, with someone who is hearing impaired.
There are exceptions to this Direction, including for infants and children under the age of 12, as well as people with a disability or a particular medical condition that makes wearing a face mark unsuitable.
Under the Direction, face masks must be designed or made to be worn over the mouth and nose, and should fit securely around your face to provide the wearer with protection against infection. A scarf or bandana is not considered an appropriate face mask.
Tips for using face masks:
• Single-use face masks can be worn continuously for up to four hours as long as it doesn’t become moist.
• Masks must not be reused and should be disposed of safely after use.
• Reusable face masks should be washed and dried after use and stored in a clean dry place.
• Use a new single-use or reusable face mask for each new situation, and
• Avoid touching and playing with face masks unnecessarily.
As face masks are just one line of defence again COVID-19, people are reminded that when travelling it is important to continue maintaining physical distancing, practising good hand and respiratory hygiene, staying home if unwell and getting tested with any symptoms of COVID-19.
People are also reminded to check the health advice and requirements of the jurisdiction they are travelling to, as the rules on face mask usage may vary from state to state.
For more information, visit: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/stay-safe-and-healthy/protect-yourself#Masks
Domestic travel
ACT and regional NSW residents can fly from Canberra Airport to Tasmania, NSW, WA, SA, NT, Qld and Victoria at present. Canberra Airport is currently flying to 12 domestic destinations, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast with connecting flights to Cairns, Ballina/Byron, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Hobart, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. Each destination, depending on the state it resides in, has different border restrictions. You may be required to gain a permit to enter the state and quarantine for 14 days at your own expense. To understand the requirements for each state, see below. For the latest information, visit the ACT Health COVID website.
COVID-19 Border information
Travelling from ACT to SA:
Coming to South Australia
You need to complete a Cross Border Travel Registration to enter South Australia — at least 3 days before you leave, regardless of where your travel begins. For families, each individual must complete a separate cross-border travel registration form. Visit police.sa.gov.au and ‘select ‘Complete cross border form’.
Anyone travelling from the Northern Beaches will not be allowed entry to South Australia.
Anyone who has been in Greater Sydney, Wollongong LGA or Central Coast LGA and travels to South Australia must complete 14 days of quarantine from the date they arrive in South Australia. Also on arrival, they must have a COVID-19 test, then test again on day 5 and 12.
Anyone travelling from regional NSW will need to have a COVID-19 test on arrival to South Australia, then test again on day 5 and 12. You will not need to quarantine, but must monitor for symptoms
The area of Greater Brisbane, consisting of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and Red Lands Local Government Areas is a COVID-19& High Community Transmission Zone.
Effective from 12:01am on 9 January 2021, if you travel to South Australia from any suburbs within these areas you will be required to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days upon your arrival in South Australia and be subjected to a COVID-19 test on day 1, 5 and 12 of your self-quarantine period.
Exceptions to this include Essential Travellers, people escaping domestic violence, persons whom normally reside in South Australia, those relocating to South Australia and travellers who are transiting in/through NSW/QLD.
Travellers via car from the Low Community Transmission Zones are permitted to travel through NSW and QLD to enter South Australia providing they do not stop in Greater Sydney or Greater Brisbane areas, wear a face mask for the entirety of the time they come into contact with the public and cannot maintain physical distance during their journey and use the most direct route, only stopping for respite and essential purposes (such as fuel).
Travellers via plane from a low community transmission zone are permitted to transit through Sydney Airport and Brisbane Airport for no longer than 2 hours and must wear a face mask for the entirety of the time they are in transit (this includes on the plane).
Travelling to ACT from SA:
Travellers from SA are no longer required to complete an online declaration prior to entering the ACT.
The ACT Government is encouraging anyone from a location with known cases or if the traveller is feeling unwell, to rethink their travel. For more information, click here.
Travelling from ACT to NT:
Anyone arriving in the Northern Territory must complete a Border Entry Form. You can do this online no more than 7 days before entering the NT at coronavirus.nt.gov.au.
Once you submit your application online, print it and bring it with you. You must provide your printed form on your arrival to the NT.
If you don’t have a printer, you’ll need to complete a new Border Arrival Form on entry to the NT.
Coming from NSW
The Northern Territory has declared certain local government areas across Sydney’s Western Suburbs a hotspot. See Interstate arrivals for further information on what you should do if you arrived from a hotspot.
These areas include:
If you are going to travel to the Northern Territory from an identified active coronavirus hotspot you are advised to cancel your plans.
If you are a Territorian planning to travel to an active hotspot you are advised to cancel your plans.
Access is via flights transiting through Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney Airport.
All travellers will be required to complete a Border Entry Form with the NT Government, no more than 72 hours before entering the Territory.
If you arrived in the NT, having travelled from or through a declared hotspot in the past 14 days, you will be required to remain in mandatory supervised quarantine at a designated facility until 14 days have elapsed since you left the hotspot.
For more information, click here.
Interstate arrivals
If you arrive in the NT — having travelled from or through a declared hotspot in the past 14 days — you must stay in mandatory supervised quarantine at a designated facility at your own expense for 14 days.
However, there are certain circumstances where you’re not considered to have been in a declared COVID-19 hotspot. For example, you’re not considered to have been in a declared hotspot if you were only in the airport — for a stopover — and didn’t leave the airport.
To find the locations of a declared hotspot and the circumstances when you’re not considered to have been in a declared hotspot, visit coronavirus.nt.gov.au and search for ‘COVID-19 Hotspots — Travel restrictions apply’.
Travelling from NT to ACT:
There are no restrictions on people travelling from NT to ACT. The ACT Government is encouraging people to rethink their travel if they are coming from a location with known cases or if the traveller is feeling unwell.
For more information, click here.
Travelling to QLD from ACT:
Domestic travellers don’t need a border pass to enter Queensland — unless you’ve been in NSW at any time since 1am Friday 11 December 2020.
Certain areas of NSW have been declared a hotspot. These restrictions now apply:
To obtain a border pass declaration, go to covid19.qld.gov.au and click on ‘Border restrictions — crossing the border’.
To find out which areas have been declared a COVID-19 hotspot, visit qld.gov.au and search ‘COVID-19 hotspots’.
Until 1am Tuesday 22 December 2020, Queensland residents can return home if they have been in Greater Sydney. On their return, they must get a COVID-19 test and complete home-quarantine for 14 days from when they were last in Greater Sydney. After 1am Tuesday 22 December 2020, Queensland residents will need to enter hotel quarantine for 14 days.
For more information, click here.
Travelling to ACT from QLD:
There are currently no restrictions on people travelling from Queensland, including Greater Brisbane, which is no longer considered a hotspot.
For more information, click here.
Travelling to NSW from the ACT:
ACT residents are advised not to travel to affected areas of NSW, as certain quarantine requirements apply to returned travellers. For the latest information, visit the ACT Government COVID website.
In addition, anyone who has been in an affected location identified by NSW Health should contact the ACT Communicable Disease Control team on (02) 5124 9213 for further
For more information, click here.
Travelling to ACT from NSW:
Anyone who has been in a COVID-affected area in NSW to notify ACT Health of their intention to travel to the ACT, via our online declaration form. ACT Health advise it could take up to 48 hours for applications to be processed.
You do not need to quarantine if you have transited through Sydney airport only, or through the COVID-19 affected areas by road without stops.
Check the latest health and travel advice for more information.
Other states and territories have implemented restrictions on travellers from NSW - to read more, click here.
Face masks:
Wearing a face mask is mandatory when travelling on domestic flights and in airports — except when you’re eating or drinking. Air crew must also wear masks on flights and in airports.
Face masks are also mandatory in Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) in certain indoor settings. See below for more information.
Children under 12 and those with exemptions do not need to wear a mask. Toddlers under the age of 2 and babies must not wear masks as they are a choking and suffocation risk.
Check the New South Wales Government's website for more information on mask requirements.
Victoria is establishing a permit system for all domestic travel into Victoria.
From 5:59pm on 11 January, you will need to apply for a permit to enter Victoria from anywhere in Australia. To apply for a permit, click here.
The permit system is based on a traffic light system which allows for areas across Australia to be designated as green, orange or red according to their risk.
The permit system is for both travellers to Victoria and residents of Victoria returning home from interstate travel.
Travelling to VIC to ACT:
Victoria doesn’t have any border restrictions to ACT travellers, as long as have not been in a COVID-19 category RED affected area in the last 14 days.
The Victoria border with NSW will be a hard border, with checkpoints established to check travellers arriving by car.
Travelling from VIC to ACT:
ACT has opened its border with Victoria, allowing non-essential travellers to cross the border without the need to quarantine for 14 days if they have not visited greater Sydney in the 14 days prior to travel. NSW has also opened its border allowing people to drive through NSW to get to the ACT.
For more information, click here.
Travelling to TAS from ACT:
Travellers who have only spent time in a low-risk area in the 14 days prior to arrival in Tasmania are not required to quarantine. There are currently no medium or high-risk areas in Australia. People entering from these areas must register their travel and contact details via the Tas e-Travel system a maximum of three (3) days before arrival in Tasmania.
If you are currently in Tasmania and you visited any of the high-risk NSW, QLD or VIC locations listed at coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travelalert — on the dates and times listed — you need to self-isolate immediately. You also need to call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738. Travellers should tell the hotline that they have been in one of the high-risk locations. The traveller will then be provided with advice on testing and quarantine based on the risk of their individual circumstances.
If you have been at these high-risk locations during the dates and times listed at coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travelalert and plan to travel to Tasmania, you will not be allowed to enter Tasmania — unless approved as an essential traveller. You can apply for an exemption via the G2G system. Travellers who have only spent time in a low-risk area in the 14 days before arriving to Tasmainia do not need to quarantine when they arrive.
Tasmanians planning on returning home can provide evidence of residency and seek to complete the 14 days required quarantine at a residential address or other suitable premises.
Essential Travellers need to take a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of arrival and are subject to checks while in quarantine.
If you have visited certain high-risk locations at the dates and times listed at coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travelalert, you must quarantine in a government-designated facility.
To view the high-risk locations, visit coronavirus.tas.gov.au. Click on ‘Coming to Tasmania’ and then ‘Travel alert’.
Link Airways is flying direct to Hobart 4 times a week. To book your flights, click here.
Travelling from TAS to ACT:
There are no restrictions on Tasmanians travelling to ACT.
Link Airways is flying direct from Hobart to Canberra return, 4 times a week.
The ACT Government is encouraging people to rethink their travel if they are coming from a location with known cases or if the traveller is feeling unwell.
For more information, click here.
Travelling from ACT to WA:
Travellers to WA don't have to quarantine if they've only been in a 'very low-risk' state or territory in the last 14 days, which now includes all states and territories, except for NSW.
Travel from NSW is classified as low risk. Anyone who arrives in WA from NSW or QLD must self-quarantine in suitable premises for 14 days. They must get tested for COVID-19 on day 11. Scroll down for more information.
Anyone in WA who has arrived from or been in NSW or QLD from 11 December and before 12:01am 18 December 2020 must:
The WA Police will contact anyone who has arrived from NSW since 11 December with these instructions.
All travellers will be required to complete a G2G Pass and declare that they have not been to a restricted state or territory in the last 14 days. Travellers will then receive a QR code for entry into WA and may also be required to take a COVID-19 screening upon arrival.
To apply for a G2G pass, click here.
Qantas Airlines is flying direct from Canberra Airport to Perth 5 times a week.
For more information, visit wa.gov.au.
Travelling from WA to ACT:
There are no restrictions on people travelling from Western Australia to ACT.
Qantas Airlines is flying direct from Canberra Airport to Perth 5 times a week.
The ACT Government is encouraging people to rethink their travel if they are coming from a location with known cases or if the traveller is feeling unwell.
For more information, click here.
Travelling from ACT to New Zealand:
Australian residents are currently unable to travel from Australia to New Zealand, until there is no community transmission and the New Zealand Government deems it safe to travel. The Australian Border Force will also need to permit this exemption.
For more information, click here.
Travelling from New Zealand to ACT:
Passengers can travel from New Zealand to Australia, quarantine-free, if:
Travellers do not need to be a New Zealand citizen to travel to Australia quarantine-free if you meet the above criteria, but you will need a valid visa to enter Australia. New Zealand citizens do not need to apply for a visa before coming to Australia. If eligible, they will be granted a Special Category visa (subclass 444) (SCV) on arrival.
Flights from New Zealand to Canberra are via Sydney Airport.
Before travelling to Australia passengers must print and complete COVID-19 Declaration form and present it at airline check-in at the airport. If they do not present a completed form, they may not be able to board your flight. This form will be used to determine if a person can travel and for contact tracing purposes by relevant state and territory governments.
If a passenger arrives in either NSW or the Northern Territory on a quarantine-free flight, they will not need to enter mandatory quarantine. If they arrive at any other location or you are not on a quarantine-free flight, they will be subject to mandatory quarantine.
For more information from the Department of Home Affairs, click here.
For information from the ACT Government, click here.
Domestic flight Information
To make changes or get specific information about flight bookings, contact your airline or travel agent directly. For airline contact details, click here.
International Travel Information
The Australian Government announced that Australian citizens are banned from travelling overseas from 25 March 2020 at 1200hrs AEDST. All International from Canberra Airport from 20 March 2020 have been cancelled. For information regarding exemption applications and entry to Australia, click here.
Passengers from New Zealand can travel to Australia, quarantine-free.
At the Airport
Please be advised updated trading hours for all airport retail outlets and Visit Canberra Information booth:
• City Hill Coffee – City Hill is open 1 hour prior to the first flight and closes after the last departure, Monday through to Sunday. Hours may vary depending on the flight schedule.
• news@CBR – Trading Monday – Friday 7:30am – 6pm
• Go! Convenience – Monday – Friday 7:30am – 2pm
Visit Canberra information booth is open:
Monday 4pm-7pm
Thursday 4pm -7pm
Friday 3pm -7pm
Sunday 4pm – 7pm
Transport:
Taxi’s, ride share, rental car providers and public buses remain business as usual during this time. To book your transport; visit our transport page for details.
What you can do to reduce the spread of COVID-19?
We would encourage all passengers to follow the hygiene recommendations from the Department of Health which include. For more information, click here.
Safe Domestic flying protocol
The Australian aviation industry has developed a Domestic Passenger Journey Protocol to provide clear and consistent guidance regarding risk-minimisation principles and processes in domestic airports and on aircraft for domestic passenger travel.
This Protocol will provide guidance for industry members and confidence to the travelling public as domestic air travel increases with the reduction in COVID-19 related restrictions on travel.
To view the protocol, click here.
