Launceston Airport had its first glimpse back at what pre-COVID life was like on Monday afternoon, as passengers were allowed to disembark a flight and freely move around Tasmania for the first time since March.
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Virgin Australia's 1092 flight from Sydney landed in Launceston at 4pm, bringing with it about 40 passengers looking to reunite with loved ones.
The majority of passengers began their journey in deemed low-risk interstate jurisdictions, such as Queensland and South Australia, before flying into Sydney Domestic Airport for the connection.
Despite the plane taking off in Sydney, a medium-risk area, passengers were not subject to quarantine requirements if they flew into the airport from a low-risk area and remained in the terminal.
However, some passengers were still required to quarantine upon arrival as they lived in New South Wales.
Sydney-sider Angela Bennett was one of them, but said she was just happy to be in Tasmania as she awaits the birth of her first grandchild.
She was originally on a flight next week to make the November birth, but said she realised if the borders did not open to NSW, she would still need to quarantine and it would prolong her from meeting her grandchild.
"I'm just really, really, really grateful to get to be here," she said.
"I'm actually looking forward to a break. Life has been pretty crazy for everyone.
"It's just nice to have a break, you know, two weeks before the new part of our chapter starts."
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Others had flown in from deemed low-risk interstate jurisdictions and were allowed, after undergoing health checks, to leave without a need to quarantine.
South Australia's Sheila and David Gleeson were two who took the opportunity to get across the border to visit their daughter, son-in-law and six-month-old grandson.
The pair were due to visit in May for the birth of their grandson, but instead had to delay their visit and virtually meet the newborn.
"This has been our first opportunity to get in," said Mr Gleeson.
"It will be the first time we get to see him [grandson], it's quite exciting."
October 26 marked the state's first day of opening its border to interstate travellers, but the first flight into the city, originating from a low-risk area, touches down on Thursday night from Brisbane.
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Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
