COVID-19: Trans-Tasman ‘Bubble’ approved in principle by New Zealand

The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a press conference today that her government is looking at allowing free travel between the Australia and New Zealand in the first quarter next year.

She has now confirmed that a travel bubble is being negotiated to open with Australia in the 1st quarter of 2021, pending the Australian government signing off, and that there are no COVID-19 outbreaks.

When

Well its ‘first quarter’, so as ET says – by March 2021

Ms Ardern announced yesterday the first mutual travel ‘bubble’ between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

“If there is an outbreak in Australia — and there have been several — we’d have to arrange to bring thousands of New Zealander’s back to the country through managed isolation.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

There are also the logistics of keeping ‘bubble’ travellers and airline crew separate from other international tourists at arrival airports in New Zealand, so they can tell who is mandated to head to quarantine, and who is free to travel on outside without completing quarantine. Ardern noted that these challenges were not insurmountable.

A group known as the Trans-Tasman Safe Border Group – is already touting a blueprint on how to do it successfully. The group comprises various agencies from both governments as well as health professionals, and representatives from Airports, Qantas and Air New Zealand.

Virgin Australia also has some skin in the game, as their 737-800’s are perfectly capable of making the jump across the ‘dutch’, and New Zealand has been talked about as a candidate for their return to ‘International’ travel.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

BRING IT ON!

I just want to be able to use my passport. And, as anyone who’s been, knows, New Zealand is just beautiful, even without those little Hobbits.