New Guidelines as the Travel Bubble between Australia and New Zealand is Operationalized

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The much-awaited travel bubble arrangement between Australia and New Zealand has finally materialized. Hundreds of passengers have landed in Auckland on an international flight after the travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand opened.

Details about the New Travel Bubble

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 tookoff 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.There were people heading to a funeral, some moving countries, and plenty of New Zealanders nervous to see family on the other side at the check-in gate.

A Ray of Hope

While some international travel has been possible for some Australians, it has 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 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.