Double bubble: flights to Oz and Cook Islands

After nine long months, New Zealanders have begun to dream of a vacation without quarantine, with two travel bubble announcements prompting a surge in requests for flights and accommodation in the Cook Islands and Australia.

The Minister responsible for Covid-19, Chris Hipkins, will meet with Air New Zealand leadership today to finalize some of the details after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday that the cabinet had agreed in principle on a transtasman bubble early in the month. next year.

The news came two days after she revealed that there were plans to allow travel between the Cook Islands and New Zealand by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Both arrangements would allow travelers to circumvent quarantine requirements in both countries.

It has been nine long months without travel abroad for most Kiwis.

On March 16, all travelers entering the country, except those from the Pacific islands, had to isolate themselves for 14 days.

Three days later, the borders were closed to all non-residents.

On April 10, all returnees to the country had to enter a managed isolation facility.

Flight Center NZ Chief Product Officer Victoria Courtney said people walked into their stores every day asking about the islands and Australia.

Some even booked flexible trips for tentative dates.

“Many clients would commit now, regardless of the bubble, but MIQ vacancies are rare.”

House of Travel had also seen a notable increase in inquiries

Since Saturday’s announcement, Rarotonga had been the most viewed deals page on the company’s website for the past three days, a spokesperson said.

But the president of the Travel Industry Provider Group, Robyn Galloway, said the schedule was too vague.

“The prime minister said in August that it looked like tours would be open for Christmas, and companies are now unsure whether to prepare for March.”

Epidemiologist professor Michael Baker said the government’s schedule was “sensible.”

“Australia and New Zealand are pursuing an elimination strategy with this virus and several of the Pacific islands are doing something very similar, which is to exclude the virus completely. The goal is exactly the same, which is to have zero transmission in the community and we all seem to be achieving that goal.

“One of the benefits is traveling without quarantine between countries that achieve the same status. So I think now is the time to look at this.”

Law enforcement leader David Seymour said: “The Prime Minister’s confirmation that the Australian travel bubble is on the same slow schedule as the Cook Islands is a blow to all New Zealanders and Australians.

“Suggestions that airlines with fleets on the ground need time to get going are more of an indictment against the government than anything else,” he said. “Tell them when they should be ready and I’m sure they will be ready.”

Wellington airport general manager of corporate affairs Jenna Raeburn said the airport had been ready for the two bubbles for “several months.”

“We will be prepared to leave as soon as the government and airlines can confirm the arrangements.”

Raeburn said the airport had previously operated 70 flights through the ditch per week. “We are feeling the loss of our connection to our closest neighbor.”

National spokesman for the Covid-19 response, Chris Bishop, said the transtasman announcement had come “too late.”

“New Zealanders have been able to travel to Australia without quarantine since October 16, but the same will not happen in New Zealand until well into next year, which will cost our companies and their staff dearly.

“Like the Cook Islands no announcement over the weekend, [yesterday’s] the news gives a ray of progress without any real substance. “

It is not yet known when the transtasman travel bubble will officially open in the first quarter – Ardern said it would announce it in the New Year.

She wouldn’t be drawn to questions about the weather, as she said that could lead to premature flight booking or cancellation of MIQ reservations.