New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[henrus]

Interestingly Qantas is sending over an empty A333 to CHC today as QF7605 in order to operate the return CHC-SYD as QF136.

Not surprisingly the seat map isn't that full ~3 hours before departure but I guess the cargo in/out of the South Island is worth the operating the flight still.

 

[burmans]

No local NSW cases today so fingers crossed this will restart Sunday.

 

[Princess Fiona]

It's not really clear to me from the media coverage and NZ government website, but when they say "flights from NSW are paused for 48 hours", do they mean that you also cannot travel from NSW to NZ via MEL/BNE? What about people who are currently in another state, but have been in NSW during the past 14 days?

Unless I’m missing something, which is quite possible, I don’t see any specific rule preventing people travelling from Sydney to NZ via another state unless they’ve been to one of the high-risk premises (such as a BBQ store last Saturday) and/or have been identified as a close contact by NSW Health?

I’m currently in regional NSW, nowhere near Sydney, and could easily fly CBR-MEL-AKL but unsure if this is allowed (I'm not trying to travel to NZ in the next few days anyway, but just wondering how the rules are applied).

Interesting that they’ve paused flights from the entire state of NSW, rather than Sydney. If this only affects flights from NSW (rather than travellers from NSW) then this makes sense as SYD is the only NSW airport with flights to NZ. But if there was a case found in Brisbane, I wonder if flights from CNS would also be suspended?

Confirmed by ABC just now. NZ closed to all of NSW. Can’t travel if you have been in NSW anywhere.
COVID-19.govt.NZ

 

[henrus]

Confirmed by ABC just now. NZ closed to all of NSW. Can’t travel if you have been in NSW anywhere.

Very odd how they're working it, maybe I'm not reading it right?

from the NZ covid site (my bold):

"7 May 2021: All passenger flights from New South Wales to New Zealand are paused while the source of infection of two Sydney cases is investigated. This pause also applies to anyone who has been in New South Wales from 11:59pm (NZT) on Thursday 6 May."

So technically people could have been in Sydney during the BBQ weekend and then moved to another state. Provided they've moved to that other state before 11:59pm NZT on 6 May does that mean they could now fly to NZ?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Very odd how they're working it, maybe I'm not reading it right?

from the NZ covid site (my bold):


So technically people could have been in Sydney during the BBQ weekend and then moved to another state. Provided they've moved to that other state before 11:59pm NZT on 6 May does that mean they could now fly to

Technically looks like it. You would think they would start the clock from the first exposure dates.

 

[jakeseven7]

Confirmed by ABC just now. NZ closed to all of NSW. Can’t travel if you have been in NSW anywhere.
COVID-19.govt.NZ

Honour system only...

 

[Lynda2475]

Lots of reports of people form Byron Bay being denied boarding on NZ flights from Coolangatta this morning. so yes NZ has blocked anyone who has been in NSW since midnight. Even though no cases in regional NSW.

 

[oz_mark]

Honour system only...

Depends how many fingerprints you leave around the place....

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Honour system only...

Not really. The person who breached the WA pause by flying via east coast was quickly uncovered and is now having 14 days of hotel quarantine. Potentially also charged quarantind fee and fined to deter others.

Interestingly Qantas is sending over an empty A333 to CHC today as QF7605 in order to operate the return CHC-SYD as QF136.

Not surprisingly the seat map isn't that full ~3 hours before departure but I guess the cargo in/out of the South Island is worth the operating the flight still.

NZ is also doing a 787 SYD flight that is cargo only from SYD.

 

[drron]

So Jacinda has now outdone the WA Premier.

 

[Mattg]

Very odd how they're working it, maybe I'm not reading it right?

from the NZ covid site (my bold):


So technically people could have been in Sydney during the BBQ weekend and then moved to another state. Provided they've moved to that other state before 11:59pm NZT on 6 May does that mean they could now fly to NZ?

I guess so.

I live about 5 minutes from the ACT border (in NSW). So I guess if I was wanting to travel to NZ today, I could have just walked across to the ACT last night?

 

[Lynda2475]

NZ is also doing a 787 SYD flight that is cargo only from SYD.

Well lots of people who travelled to NZ over the past few weeks still need to get back to SYD.

So Jacinda has now outdone the WA Premier.

Yep which now makes NZ less attractive than WA for holiday (non essential) travel.

NSW is larger in land area than whole of NZ, yet when there is a breach in North Island of NZ they don't close down South Island. So likley a more nuanced approach is needed because of border communities who are 100kms away from the community case. Or ideally a proper recognition of venues.

 

[henrus]

Lots of reports of people form Byron Bay being denied boarding on NZ flights from Coolangatta this morning. so yes NZ has blocked anyone who has been in NSW since midnight. Even though no cases in regional NSW.

I'd love to see how they did that at OOL... the border runs through part of the terminal. If you were at gates 1, 2 or 3 or the Southern End of the terminal near baggage claim then you can't board a flight to NZ?

So Jacinda has now outdone the WA Premier.

I wouldn't go that far yet. Remember WA used to block off for a full 28 days... NZ is yet to do that.

 

[Seat0B]

Lots of reports of people form Byron Bay being denied boarding on NZ flights from Coolangatta this morning. so yes NZ has blocked anyone who has been in NSW since midnight. Even though no cases in regional NSW.

sigh, here we go again with over-reach.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Not really. The person who breached the WA pause by flying via east coast was quickly uncovered and is now having 14 days of hotel quarantine. Potentially also charged quarantind fee and fined to deter others.

MIQ fee will be charged to this person according to a decision made today. Still to be decided on fine.

 

[henrus]

MIQ fee will be charged to this person according to a decision made today. Still to be decided on fine.

Good on them for doing that... If they don't make an example then people will think they can get around it next time.

 

[Lynda2475]

I'd love to see how they did that at OOL... the border runs through part of the terminal. If you were at gates 1, 2 or 3 or the Southern End of the terminal near baggage claim then you can't board a flight to NZ?

I doubt it was that nuanced, probably looked at the residential address entered on any covid declaration (or booking).

 

[drron]

I wouldn't go that far yet. Remember WA used to block off for a full 28 days... NZ is yet to do that.

Though I did say has now.He hasn't banned all NSW this time and according to the WA website the only restrictions are people who have been to the proclaimed venues.Even then not an outright ban and HQ not necessary if you have a suitable place to isolate.So Mark slips to the bronze medal place,Anastacia has the silver and Jacinda takes gold when it comes to the reaction to the latest cases in Sydney.

 

[henrus]

proclaimed venues.Even then not an outright ban and HQ not necessary if you have a suitable place to isolate.So Mark slips to the bronze medal place,Anastacia has the silver and Jacinda takes gold when it comes to the reaction to the latest cases in Sydney.

Can just imagine WA and QLD police at the airport...

"Have you been BBQ shopping whilst in Sydney?"... "no" ... "Ok have a nice day".

 

[jakeseven7]

Not really. The person who breached the WA pause by flying via east coast was quickly uncovered and is now having 14 days of hotel quarantine. Potentially also charged quarantind fee and fined to deter others.



NZ is also doing a 787 SYD flight that is cargo only from SYD.

Cool story Let’s just say there are a bunch of hiking bunnies that made the hop ok.