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A new direct route between Australia and New Zealand is set to open, fittingly as soon as Anzac Day, in the first hint the travel bubble between the two countries is set to return.
Air New Zealand announced a new direct route between Hobart and New Zealand on Friday citing demand from both Kiwis and Tasmanians to bring in a non-stop flight.
The Tasmanian government say the agreement, the first non-stop flights to and from NZ in over 20 years, will start when the travel corridor is resumed – which they believe could be as early as April 25th.
Air New Zealand announced a new direct route between Hobart and New Zealand on Friday citing demand from both Kiwis and Tasmanians to bring in a non-stop flight
Air New Zealand and the Tasmanian government announced the deal in a press conference
Air New Zealand and the Tasmanian government announced the deal in a press conference on Friday afternoon saying Kiwis had been flocking to the island state in recent years and that Hobart was its largest unserved port in the country.
‘Pre-COVID-19, Tasmania was the largest Australian port unserved by a direct route from New Zealand, and in 2019 nearly 57,000 passengers travelled from New Zealand to Tasmania, so we expect this new route to stimulate even greater demand between the two destinations,’ Air New Zealand said on the new agreement.
‘We know Tasmanians love to visit New Zealand and this non-stop service to Auckland will make it that much easier to get out into our great outdoors and access our winter playgrounds.
‘Australian visitors will be able to connect to the other 19 ports we fly to in New Zealand. So with a flight time of just four hours to Auckland, customers are only a short skip away from the ski fields of the South Island, the vineyards of the central plateau, and the culture and history of Northland.’
Tickets will go on sale once Australia and New Zealand allow travel between the two island countries
The two-year deal will ensure passengers don’t have to hotel quarantine at either destination, once the agreement between Australia and New Zealand is restored.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said he hopes the deal encourages more Kiwis to visit the island and hinted that it was part of a bigger deal between the two nations.
‘I am very pleased that this service will enable us to welcome more New Zealanders to our state and encourage them to consider booking their next holiday in Tassie and see what we have to offer,’ Premier Gutwein said in a press conference on Friday.
‘I’m hopeful it will (occur by Anzac Day) and if not some time very close to that,’ Mr Gutwein said.
‘I think New Zealanders, in same way as Australians and Tasmanians, have had a real desire to travel.
‘I think there will be real demand from NZ and Tourism Tasmania have already been in that market with a taster exercise reminding people just how good Tasmania is.’
Tickets will go on sale once Australia and New Zealand allow travel between the two island countries.
Source: DailyMail AU
