New Zealanders and other eligible travellers from Australia can now enter Aotearoa without the need to spend time in managed isolation.
As of 12am Monday morning, border restrictions changed, meaning those who fit the criteria will only need to self-isolate for seven days instead of spending 14 in a paid and hard-to-come-by MIQ room.
The first of five flights from Australia arrives in Auckland at 2.45pm this afternoon, with the last arrival touching down at 9.45pm
Australian arrivals:
- 2.45pm: Qantas QF143 from Sydney
- 5:15pm: Air New Zealand NZ104 from Sydney
- 5.20pm: Air New Zealand NZ124 from Melbourne
- 7.20pm: Air New Zealand NZ176 from Perth
- 9.35pm: Air New Zealand NZ128 from Melbourne
Air New Zealand has 64 international flight arrivals this week, 38 coming in from Australia.
The airline has nearly 9000 arrivals from Australia booked to fly to Aotearoa this week, building to over 25,000 arrivals from across the globe over the next three weeks.
Air NZ is currently operating seven flights a week from Sydney and Melbourne, three from Brisbane and one from Perth. From Monday, it will move to a daily service to Sydney, twice daily on Friday and Sunday, daily to Melbourne, and four times a week to Brisbane.
Those arriving in Auckland today will receive a welcome home pack containing rapid antigen tests, information on self-isolation and further health advice.
Friends and family can come to the terminal to pick up an arriving passenger, but Government advice strongly recommends travelling independently to your self-isolation location without stopping to visit people or go into shops.
Travellers who need to be picked up by whānau or a friend at the airport must make sure both parties are wearing masks for the whole journey, sit as far apart as possible, try to keep the vehicle well ventilated and have a full tank of fuel to limit the need to stop at a service station.
Rental cars, public transport, taxi and rideshare options are also available at the international terminal if needed to travel to your place of self-isolation.
Arriving international passengers can use a direct domestic flight if necessary.
Pre-ordered online duty free shopping via The Mall is available for self-isolating arrivals through a contactless click-and-collect service located in the baggage hall. Contactless sales and click-and-collect duty free purchases are also available on arrival with The Loop duty free.
