Emotional scenes in Aussie airports
The arrival halls of Australian airports were full of emotional reunions on Monday, as grandparents met their grandchildren for the first time, friends were reunited and parents embraced their children after a year of separation as the trans-Tasman bubble officially launched.
For the first time since March last year, New Zealanders and Australians are able to freely travel between the two countries without the need for hotel quarantine.
Resembling a scene from Love Actually, emotions were running high as families reunited at the arrival gates in Melbourne.
People are seen embracing as travellers arrive from Auckland on Air New Zealand flight NZ101 at Sydney International Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
People are seen embracing as travellers arrive from Wellington on Air New Zealand flight NZ245 at Sydney International Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
Young mum Alicia Vermeulen said she hadn’t seen her parents since September 2019, and today was the first time they will meet six-week-old granddaughter, Summer.
“I’m just so happy,” said an emotional Ms Vermeulen.
Maria Poasa embraces her son Tala and grandson Orlando (2) for the first time in two years after arriving from Auckland on Air New Zealand flight NZ101 at Sydney International Airport, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
Chris Smyth said while border closures had been “frustrating”, the wait had been worth it to meet his granddaughter for the first time.
Travellers lamented the border closures had been ‘frustrating’ but were glad to now be able to travel between the two countries. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
Stacey Rodgers said “Facetime just wasn’t the same”, as she waited at Tullamarine to greet her mum Christina Cassin from Wellington.
A ‘Welcome back drag committee’ member Coco Jumbo welcomes travellers from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport, Sydney. T Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
Ms Cassin said she had booked a ticket “as soon as she knew” the bubble was opening, so she could meet her new grandson, Wolfe.
Mother and daughter Ali Boyd and Kirsty Bradshaw burst into tears as they embraced each other for the first time in more than two years.
There were plenty of tears in the arrival halls around Australia on Monday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
“As the Prime Minister announced the bubble on TV I was booking a ticket,” Ms Bradshaw said.
“We’ve been waiting so long.”
Families have been reunited for the first time in over a year with the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was at Sydney Airport on Monday morning, and said it had been a “momentous occasion”.
“The opening of the two-way travel bubble is fantastic for family and friends who are reuniting after so long apart and for the many jobs which are heavily dependent on tourism,” he said.
Sydney International Arrivals hall resembled a scene from Love Actually on Monday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
“It means we’ll be able to get more planes back in the sky and more of our people back to work.”
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said ‘tens of thousands’ of trans-Tasman flights had been booked after the announcement of the bubble. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
Since the bubble was announced, Qantas has noticed a “strong surge in demand” for trans-Tasman routes, Mr Joyce said.
“Tens of thousands of bookings (were) made in the first few days”,” he said.
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