Australia sees strong interest in travel as restrictions ease

With Australia’s plans to reopen its borders, curtail quarantine rules and allow fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents to leave the country without special permission starting next month, flight searches and bookings in and out of the area have surged. Searches for international flights from Australia increased 128% in the past month, according to travel website Skyscanner, while Virgin Australia reported that demand went up 125% for domestic flights, almost 100% for flights to New Zealand and 217% for trips to Bali in the same time period.