Airlines are hoping a trans-Tasman bubble will open in April and are “95 per cent ready” to fly quarantine-free flights, a group representing the industry says.
Board of Airlines New Zealand (Barnz) executive director Justin Tighe-Umbers said the remaining 5 per cent of preparation airlines’ needed to do could not happen until they were given an exact date on when trans-Tasman and Cook Islands bubbles would open.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday said she would announce on April 6 when two-way quarantine-free trans-Tasman travel would be possible.
“We understand the Government must be satisfied it has worked through the regulatory, technical and practical items Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern outlined,” Tighe-Umbers said.
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When a date was set airlines would be able to make their final preparations such as rostering staff, loading fares into their systems and setting up contracts with service providers such as ground staff, he said.
“Airlines are not alone in having to recall people, get them recertified or retrained to meet regulatory requirements, and to align new schedules,” he said.
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Airlines including Qantas and Air New Zealand will be wanting a trans-Tasman travel bubble to start in April, an industry group representing them says.
All businesses that supported air travel were having to ramp up too, he said.
“The logistics of rebooting aviation are complex, but airlines are ready to take off as soon as the Government gives us the green light.
Barnz members include Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia.
Members were hoping the start date would be no longer than three weeks after April 6, he said.
The number of airlines flying passengers to New Zealand had reduced from 30 to 12, and direct connections to cities overseas had dropped from 44 to 17, with more routes under threat,…