Two-way travel between Australia and New Zealand is now under way, with close to 15 destinations set to have direct routes to their trans-Tasman neighbours. <\/p>\n
On Monday morning, Qantas launched its first quarantine-free international flight to New Zealand, nearly 400 days since international borders first closed.<\/p>\n
About 630 Qantas and Jetstar workers will resume normal duties, with the nation’s largest airline group servicing 29 flights a week, including a new route between the Gold Coast and Auckland.<\/p>\n
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Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand has officially begun. Picture: NCA NewsWire\/Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said it was a momentous occasion in the nation’s recovery from the virus.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “It means we’ll be able to get more planes back in the sky and more of our people back to work. <\/p>\n Mr Joyce noted the airline had noticed a strong surge in demand for trans-Tasman journeys since the bubble was announced to begin on April 19.<\/p>\n Prior to the pandemic, New Zealand was Australia’s second largest source of international visitors.<\/p>\n Qantas’s operating schedule is running at 80 per cent capacity compared to its pre COVID-19 levels and is expecting to increase the number of flights once demand increases for the winter ski season.<\/p>\n Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said it was a momentous occasion in the nation\u2019s recovery from the virus. Picture: NCA NewsWire \/ Dylan CokerSource:News Corp Australia<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n “We’ve seen strong demand since the bubble was announced, with tens of thousands of bookings made in the first few days,” Mr Joyce said.<\/p>\n “We’ve also added more flights to Queenstown to meet expected demand during the peak ski season.”<\/p>\n Mr Joyce said once the nation’s vaccine rollout was in full swing the airline would look at starting other travel bubbles with nations such as Taiwan, Japan and South Pacific nations.<\/p>\n Qantas is still hopeful the airline will be able to kickstart all of its international flights by October despite setbacks to Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.<\/p>\n The top boss of the flying kangaroo also said vaccines were likely to be a requirement for international travel, flagging Australia may take an approach like Iceland or Israel where proof of taking a vaccine is needed to enter the respective countries.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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