It looks like the only ones enjoying Melbourne’s new lockdown are the airlines judging by their hiked prices.
In a press conference earlier today, February 12th, Victorian Premier Dan Andrews confirmed that Melbourne and Victoria would be put into a sudden five-day lockdown. This was due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases emanating from the Holiday Inn cluster, with the total number now up to 13.
With the lockdown scheduled to start at midnight, Melburnians naturally were in the mood to escape the city and lockdown. The memories of 2020’s extensive periods of isolation are still fresh, still raw. The city suffered and had been enjoying these past few months of renewed freedom and rightly so.
The quickest way to flee, of course, was by flying. Heading to a website such as Skyscanner, though, as one Instagram user @michael.harron did (see second picture), would have left customers reeling. Searching for a one-way flight from Melbourne to Brisbane leaving today brought insane numbers: $1,196 overall, with a journey time over 13 hours with one stop in Canberra.
With that journey time, you’d just make it to your destination as Melbourne’s lockdown came to an end (this statement is hyperbolic before anyone does the math).
And it’s all too familiar. It’s always the same story, big companies taking advantage of unfortunate and helpless customers. It happened during Melbourne’s last lockdown too.
So while people are getting arrested for hoarding lots of toilet paper (what if they seriously need to use it all?!), the mega airlines are given free rein to cause misery and stress to struggling Melburnians.
If you were thinking of escaping the city for somewhere else in Australia, we urge you to hold tight. Don’t give into the greed of corporations. Everyone can only keep their fingers crossed that this snap lockdown is successful and only lasts five days. Melbourne, we’re with you as always.
