Hundreds of Australian passengers on Monday were greeted at Auckland Airport with welcome signs and live music.
New Zealand opened its doors to quarantine-free travel from its bigger neighbor for the first time since COVID-19.
It brought the world to a standstill in March 2020.
NZ-Australia Travel Bubble
The two-way “trans-Tasman travel bubble” officially began at 11:59 p.m. New Zealand time on Sunday night.
With the first Australian flight from Sydney landing in Auckland past midday.
Hundreds of masked passengers thronged the international departure terminals at Australian airports.
While some emotional travelers shared photos on Twitter as they prepared to meet loved ones.
The opening marks an important step toward recovery for countries’ governments and travel-related businesses.
But there is still a long way to go.
“The opening of the two-way bubble is fantastic for the family and friends.”
Especially those who are reuniting after so long apart and for the many jobs which are so heavily dependent on tourism,”
Almost 5,000 people were expected to be on the 30 flights Air New Zealand ran across the Tasman Sea on Monday alone.
A similar number were traveling on Qantas and subsidiary Jetstar’s 29 flights.
On the first day following the New Zealand government’s lifting of quarantine restrictions for Australian travelers, this was on the first day.
Passengers arriving in Auckland were met with “Welcome Whanau” signs, the Maori term for family.
A choir provided a score for emotional reunions.
In Australia, travelers flying into Melbourne from New Zealand were treated to an interpretive dance show.
COVID-19 Responses
Australia and New Zealand have been the envy of the world as they have curbed infections.
And largely reopened their economies to offer citizens some semblance of normalcy.
But they have kept their borders closed to the rest of the world.
In principle, only allowing citizens and permanent residents to enter following a 14-day mandatory quarantine in a hotel.
Australia had in October opened a one-way travel bubble with New Zealand.
But flyers from Australia to the smaller island nation of 5 million people were still required to isolate for two weeks.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier this month said the new arrangement was “world-first of sorts.”
It is set to help the neighbors’ post-pandemic recovery.
“This is an important step forward in our COVID response.”
It represents an arrangement I do not believe we have seen in any other part of the world,”
Ardern said from New Zealand’s parliament in Wellington.
“That is, safely opening up international travel to another country.”
“A while continuing to pursue a strategy of elimination and a commitment to keeping the virus out.”
Australia’s deputy prime minister on Monday said his country is in talks with Singapore.
They want a similar quarantine-free travel arrangement.
Under the deal with New Zealand, passengers from Australia take “green zone flights.”
Especially for those who have been in Australia for the previous 14 days.
These flights are crewed only by members who have not been on high-risk routes for a set period of time.
The travelers are required to complete a health declaration ahead of departure.
And return a negative test in the 14-day period.
Passengers have been warned that quarantine-free travel could be suspended at any time.
This is in the case of COVID-19 outbreaks.
The bubble provides a new lease on life to airlines and airports.
Auckland Airport expects a tenfold jump in flights between Auckland and Australia over the first few weeks.
The flight numbers are set to scale up to 400 a week.