News
Trans-Tasman "travel bubble" plan ready in June
May 29th 2020
A panel of experts is preparing to submit recommendations for the creation of a trans-Tasman safe travel zone in coming weeks, it has been announced. Read More »
The trans-Tasman safe border group of experts from 11 government agencies, six airports and two airlines from Australia and New Zealand was set up early this month to investigate the safe re-opening of the border between the two countries.
The panel is considering all aspects of the passenger journey, including pre-flight health requirements and eligibility, protections on board the aircraft, managing traveller flows, movement through airports, contract tracing requirements after people have reached their destinations and enhanced cleaning protocols.
Auckland Airport general manager for aeronautical commercial, Scott Tasker, a co-chair of the safe border group, said: “We are very fortunate to be in a position where our governments can even contemplate the safe re-opening of the trans-Tasman border for the benefit of our communities and economies."
“Our aim is to put forward a detailed set of recommendations that safely manage any health risks, while also allowing Kiwis and Australians to travel to each country without the need for a 14-day quarantine."
The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF), which is coordinating the safe border group, said this week the working group was on track to complete its proposal by early June, when it would be shared with both governments.
The group also would "recommend how the trans-Tasman border experience could be used to model and test processes that could be applied to other countries to enable progressive lifting of border restrictions", the ANZLF said.
There have been calls from some Pacific Island nations to be included in a regional safe travel zone.
Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific, discussions were happening between countries about similar schemes.
In the meantime, China and South Korea have established a scheme that began on May 1. It allows business travellers to fly between the two countries if they tested negative to COVID-19 before their flights and after landing.
Cambodia has opened its border to foreigners from six countries, subject to meeting certain conditions.
