Air New Zealand is picking that managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) will be dropped from February 28 for travellers returning from Australia.
When searching the airline’s website for available flights from Australia to New Zealand, a red message beside each flight currently notes that managed isolation is required, unless passengers are transiting.
However, this note has been removed from all trans-Tasman flights from February 28.
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Kiwis in Australia are expected to be able to return without having to enter MIQ from February 28.
Flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Auckland on February 28 are currently available for $409, while a flight from Brisbane to Auckland is available on March 1 for $404.
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But Air New Zealand insists this is not a new development, saying that it has had flights on sale from this date for “some time”.
“On 21 December last year, the New Zealand Government announced a delay to the date New Zealanders in Australia could travel back to New Zealand without entering an MIQ facility until the end of February,” said Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty.
”The Government said at the time it was pushing out the start of non-MIQ travel until the end of February to help increase New Zealand’s overall protection and slow Omicron’s eventual spread.
”Based on that Air New Zealand amended its schedule and has had flights on sale from this date for some time.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to announce that New Zealand citizens in Australia will be able to skip MIQ and enter New Zealand from 11.59pm on February 27, Stuff understands.
It is thought they will have to be vaccinated and undergo a period of self-isolation.
From March 13, New Zealand citizens from the rest of the world are expected to be able to return under similar conditions.
Qantas also has flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Auckland available on February 28, however the Australian airline’s current schedule does not ramp up until late March.
