The move ends more than two years of self-imposed isolation that dramatically curbed the number of people traveling to the country and the number of airlines flying there
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New Zealand has accelerated its border reopening, with fully vaccinated Australians allowed back from April. Travelers from 60 other countries on New Zealand’s visa waiver list will be allowed in from May 1. The move ends more than two years of self-imposed isolation that dramatically curbed the number of people traveling to the country and the number of airlines flying there.
Since Christmas 2021, New Zealand has allowed its citizens and permanent residents to return home minus the dramas and expense of quarantine and isolation. The country had allowed Australians in mid-year and travellers from other countries later in the year. But as other countries dismantled their travel restrictions and border controls without catastrophic consequences, New Zealand risked getting left behind.
From 23.59 (local time) on Tuesday, April 12, Australians will be able to travel to New Zealand without any isolation or quarantine requirements. And, from 23.59 (local time) on Sunday, May 1, vaccinated travelers from visa-waiver countries such as the large tourist markets of the UK, US, Japan, Germany, Korea, and Singapore, and those with valid visitor visas will be able to arrive.
China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Fiji Airways, China Southern, Qatar, Qantas, and national carrier Air New Zealand are among the airlines offering international flights in and out of Auckland Airport
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated on March 16, “Closing our border was one of the first actions we took to stop COVID-19 two years ago. It did the job we needed. But now that we’re highly vaccinated and predicted to be off our omicron peak, it’s now safe to open up.”
New Zealand’s biggest airport, Auckland International (AKL), has seen the number of airlines servicing the airport fall from 29 before the pandemic to just 13. Overall, international traveller numbers at the airport have fallen over 90% to 2,900 per day from 30,000 per day before the borders shut. Auckland Airport CEO Carrie Hurihanganui said,
“It’s an incredibly important moment for all of us at Auckland Airport following two years of virtually no international passengers. Allowing eligible travelers to cross freely into New Zealand marks a huge step in our recovery and that of the tourism industry.”
China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Fiji Airways, China Southern, Qatar, Qantas, and national carrier Air New Zealand are among the airlines offering international flights in and out of Auckland Airport.
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