Travel bubble opens as Australians take off on quarantine-free holidays and New Zealanders find a way home.
ABC News
Hundreds of passengers have landed in Auckland on an international flight after the travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand opened.
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Australians can enjoy relatively unrestricted international travel and avoid hotel quarantine when they return home. And for New Zealanders stuck on this side of the Tasman, today marks the start of a return to normal when going home is only a short flight away.
The rules changed at midnight and the first flight headed for Auckland from Sydney airport took off about 7:00am, after an initial delay. Upon arrival, passengers are set to walk off the plane and out into the community, becoming the first arrivals to bypass New Zealand’s hotel quarantine system since the start of the pandemic.
From ghost town to a little buzz
After a year of empty departure halls, Australian airports added dozens of flights to departure boards this morning.
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will see more than 30 flights depart.
Perth and Gold Coast airports will also send flights to New Zealand down the runway.
Adelaide can expect to see flights across the Tasman commence in early May, and the airlines have promised flights to New Zealand will also come to Cairns and Hobart in the near future.
Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand have all announced new routes between the two countries, taking advantage of the rare opportunity to move passengers across international borders without the lengthy, and costly, hotel quarantine layover.
Travel bubble opens up opportunities
While some international travel has been possible for some Australians, it’s been heavily restricted and not without hefty costs.
The travel bubble means Australians are now free to visit an international destination without applying for permission from the federal government or the burden of hotel quarantine at their destination or when they return home.
The bubble opens up the opportunity for tourism as well as easier, and cheaper, family reunions.
After a Queensland border closure forced her into quarantine in Australia, Ms Lyberpoulos said avoiding that system in New Zealand was essential.
“It was a really terrible experience. Never again, I hope,” she said.
For Wilana Rawiri, 29, hotel quarantine was a “deal-breaker”.
“We weren’t going to go back, but we have a funeral so we’re just blessed that it’s opened up in time for us to go and pay our respects,” she said.
“We’re grateful. It’s just in time.”
The travel bubble was announced by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern two weeks ago, but the message at the time was very much “flyer beware”.
While both New Zealand and Australia have contained the community transmission of COVID-19, those travelling in the bubble have been warned the conditions could change at very short notice.
“Those undertaking travel on either side of the ditch will do so under the guidance of flyer beware,” Ms Ardern said when announcing the travel bubble.
“People will need to plan for the possibility of travel being disrupted if there is an outbreak.”
Article courtesy of ABC News, read more on Travel bubble opens as Australians take off on quarantine-free holidays and New Zealanders find a way home – ABC News
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