Health and Travel Alert – Update on Commercial Air Service for Return to the United States

12 MINUTE READ

May 28, 2020

Location: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu: As of May 28, the Embassy is not aware of flight options for entering or exiting Solomon Islands or Vanuatu. U.S. citizens who wish immediately to return to the United States from Solomon Islands or Vanuatu are advised to continue monitoring the availability of commercial air or charter flights that might facilitate their travel. If they have not done so already, U.S. citizens who wish to depart immediately should also complete our repatriation interest form.

Papua New Guinea: U.S. citizens in Papua New Guinea who wish immediately to return to the United States are again advised to take advantage of the two remaining Virgin Australia flights between Brisbane and Los Angeles. In addition to these trans-Pacific flights, there are currently multiple commercial options for immediate return to the United States from Papua New Guinea via Brisbane and Doha, Qatar, on Qatar Airways.

U.S. citizens are further advised that the Australian government recently announced that foreign nationals arriving in and departing from Australia at the same airport and who do not leave the airport do not need to obtain an exemption to Australia’s restrictions on transit and entry for non-Australian citizens and residents.

Overnight stays in Brisbane, exit from the airport, and transit times of greater than eight hours may still require as many as three approvals prior to traveling: a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), an approved Queensland Travel Pass, and an approved exemption to Australia’s restrictions on transit and entry for non-Australian citizens and residents.

Domestic transfers within Australia, even to catch on onward international flight, are still not allowed.

Same Day Transit in Brisbane en route to Los Angeles via Virgin Australia (less than 8 hour transit time)

Saturday, May 30 or June 6 – Port Moresby to Brisbane via Air Niugini
Saturday, May 30 or June 6 – Brisbane to Los Angeles via Virgin Australia

Overnight Transit in Brisbane en route to Los Angeles via Virgin Australia

Friday, May 29 or June 5 – Port Moresby to Brisbane via Air Niugini
Saturday, May 30 or June 6 – Brisbane to Los Angeles via Virgin Australia

For the overnight transit option, U.S. citizens will need:

A valid Australian visa or ETA. Note that processing of new ETAs is suspended. U.S. citizens who do not currently have a valid visa or ETA are advised to apply online for a Subclass 771 (transit of less than 72 hours) or Subclass 600 (visitor) visa.

An approved Queensland Travel Pass allowing the traveler to enter Queensland and exit the Brisbane airport to complete quarantine at a designated site (usually a hotel near the airport) for the duration of your transit. When applying for the Travel Pass, U.S. citizens should select the “compassionate grounds” exemption and provide the address of your intended hotel in Brisbane, recognizing that state health officials may direct you to another designated hotel.
An approved exemption to Australia’s restrictions on transit and entry for non-Australian citizens and residents. U.S. citizens are advised to include in their request detailed information about their confirmed itinerary, their approved Queensland Travel Pass, as much information as possible to explain their situation as to why they are unable to complete a transit in fewer than eight hours, as well as any other information requested.

Transit in Brisbane en route to the United States via Qatar Airways

Multiple options are available, some of which may be subject to Australian federal or state requirements detailed above. U.S. citizens should consult a travel agent or review possible itineraries on the websites of Air Niugini and Qatar Airways.

The Embassy has no authority to facilitate exemptions to Australia’s border and immigration policies and assumes no liability for delays or disruptions in travel. Additional international commercial air services facilitating return to the United States may continue to be limited for the foreseeable future.

U.S. citizens are advised that the above routes and transit options may be suspended at any time with little or no notice and are subject to Australian federal and/or state requirements, as applicable. U.S. citizens may find that online forms linked to above do not take into account their specific situation, but you should make an attempt to obtain approvals as required and with the best information available to you at the time.

U.S. citizens who need to undertake domestic air or ground transportation otherwise restricted under PNG’s State of Emergency (SOE) requirements may apply for an exemption from the SOE Controller by accessing the “Vehicle Pass” and/or “Air Travel Request” links at the PNG government’s COVID-19 website. Approval of travel in exemption of relevant SOE orders is being decided based on strict criteria, which include emergency transport, essential services, and one-way travel for the purpose of returning to the traveler’s habitual place of residence.

Actions to Take:

Consult directly with the airlines and/or a travel agent to try to find commercial options to the United States.
If your itinerary transits Australia and you cannot complete your transfer within an eight hour window on the same day as your arrival, obtain an exemption from the Australian Border Force in advance of your travel based on a confirmed reservation.
If your itinerary requires a transit time in Australia of more than eight hours and your do not already have and ETA or valid visa, obtain a Subclass 771 (transit of less than 72 hours) or Subclass 600 (visitor) visa.
If your itinerary requires a transit time in Queensland of more than eight hours, obtain a Queensland Entry/Travel Pass to allow you to exit the Brisbane airport and complete requisite quarantine at a state-designated facility (usually a nearby hotel).
If your itinerary transits New Zealand, obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authorization.
If your travel requires domestic air or ground transportation otherwise restricted under PNG’s State of Emergency, obtain a Vehicle Pass or Air Travel pass online.
Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s websiteon the latest travel restrictions to the United States.