New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has confirmed a two-way journey bubble will open with Australia later this month.
Residents of each international locations will be capable of journey between the 2 with out having to quarantine from April 19th.
Since October, New Zealand-based travellers have been allowed to enter most Australian states with out quarantine.
Nonetheless, this had not been reciprocated.
Each nations have largely contained Covid-19 outbreaks and saved an infection charges close to zero.
The international locations shut their borders in March final 12 months and introduced in obligatory quarantine for returning nationals.
Ardern praised such aggressive responses as key to opening the journey bubble.
“I can not see or level to any international locations on the earth which might be sustaining a method of preserving their international locations utterly Covid-19-free, while opening as much as worldwide journey between one another,” she stated.
“That implies that, in a manner, you realize, we’re world-leading.”
Australia has recorded 909 deaths because the pandemic started, whereas New Zealand has reported 25.
Passengers travelling to New Zealand might be required to have spent the 14 days earlier than the flight in Australia solely.
Airline crews will need to have solely labored on low-risk routes.
These with chilly or flu signs is not going to be allowed to journey, and all passengers should put on masks and provides particulars to New Zealand authorities of the place they are going to be staying.
Ardern stated she anticipated most travellers taking early journeys can be going to see household and buddies – however added the upcoming ski season would even be an attraction.
Australia nationwide provider Qantas stated it might resume 122 return flights to New Zealand per week as soon as the bubble got here into operation.
