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'Like an Apocalypse': Sydney Airport Deserted as Airlines Cut Flights

One of Sydney Airport’s domestic terminals resembled a ghost town on March 16 after the coronavirus outbreak prompted travel restrictions and forced the cancellation of events across the country.

“It was like an apocalypse. Never saw this airport as empty as now,” Serbie Amaya, who posted this video to Instagram, told Storyful.

Major airline Qantas said it was cancelling almost all of its international flights until the end of May and dramatically reducing its domestic capacity due to the reduced demand.

Events including Byron Bay’s Bluesfest and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival were cancelled as the government stepped up its response to the coronavirus outbreak, banning gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday March 16 and requiring all international arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days. Credit: Serbie Amaya via Storyful