Travel bubble bursts: 14 passengers arrested in Melbourne after flying to Sydney

Fourteen passengers have been detained in Melbourne after they arrived from New Zealand under the transtasman bubble deals.

ABC understands that the passengers flew to Sydney and got a connection to fly to Melbourne.

Melbourne does not currently accept international travelers, and the travel bubble only includes New South Wales and the Northern Territory.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has been contacted for comment.

Travelers on the first commercial flight from New Zealand in seven months landed in Sydney this afternoon, in the first phase of a bubble of transtasman travel.

There were emotional scenes at Sydney International Airport when families finally reunited after the bubble burst overnight.

Passengers aboard the Air New Zealand flight landed at noon.

Kiwi passengers will not have to enter hotel quarantine upon arrival. A Jetstar flight and a Qantas flight were also due to land today.

Arrivals mark a positive development in international travel arrivals, with the Australian border closed to international arrivals since March.

Under the agreement between the two nations, New Zealanders will be allowed to travel without quarantine to New South Wales and the Northern Territory if they have not been to a Covid-19 hotspot in the previous 14 days.

Upon arrival in Australia, passengers will be divided into green and red zones at the airport, delineating quarantine-free flights and travelers subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Currently, it is a one-way bubble. Australians will be able to cross the ditch at a later date, yet to be determined.

The reaction on social media was quick.

“I don’t know why anyone would come to melb at the moment,” wrote another, referring to the months-long Covid-19 restrictions in the city after it was hit by a second severe wave of the virus.

Another was more welcoming and posted “Welcome to the Hotel Melifornia.”

Earlier Friday afternoon, Scott Morrison said that some 230 New Zealanders had arrived in Sydney.

“We have already welcomed our first kiwis back to Australia for a holiday. That is fantastic,” said the prime minister.

“I understand that about 230 were on the flight this morning that it arrived, and I think it is now going through customs as we speak, and there are others that will come.”

“We welcome those Kiwis, Kia Ora to the Kiwis who have joined us today, I hope you enjoy your holidays in New South Wales or the Northern Territory or the ACT and tell your friends and we are looking forward to see more of you. “