New Zealand travel bubble suspension impacted international travel at Melbourne Airport. Credit: © Melbourne Airport.

Melbourne Airport (MEL) passenger volume plunged to a record low in August this year, due to lockdowns and state border closures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month, 73,805 people travelled through the airport, which is the lowest passenger volume level at MEL since October 2020.

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Domestic passenger volume in August this year was 61,334.

Due to the continued suspension of the New Zealand travel bubble, international passenger numbers also dropped significantly to 12,471 in August compared to 50,671 in July.

Melbourne Airport CEO Lyell Strambi said: “Australians deserve certainty about the future status of state borders so they can make plans to reconnect with loved ones, travel for business or take a holiday, particularly over summer.

“Under National Cabinet’s agreed re-opening plan, when 80% of the population has received two doses of vaccine, fully immunised Australians would be exempt from domestic restrictions and allowed to travel overseas. We will work with governments and airlines to implement whatever is required so this can happen.

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“The ongoing closures and lockdowns have crippled the travel industry. While our year-to-date passenger numbers are higher than this time last year, they are still down 5.84 million on the corresponding figure in 2019.”

Strambi also urged state leaders to give travellers certainty ahead of the Christmas holidays.

In order to promote vaccination, the airport is also providing a $7,233 (A$10,000) travel voucher a month for the rest of the year to a fully immunised Victorian.