BUBBLING OVER

IT’S been emotional, cuz.

Reunited Kiwi and Aussie loved ones shed tears of joy as the first travel bubble flights arrived yesterday from across ‘the big ditch’ into Gold Coast Airport – and vice versa into Auckland. Among them on the Gold Coast, Lesley Eva held baby granddaughter Charlotte Watt and hugged her sister Diane Senior after dotting down on the first Air NZ flight from Auckland. “I got off the plane and it just hit me,” an emotional Ms Eva said.

GOLD Coast Airport’s arrival hall was awash with tears as the trans-Tasman bubble launched on Monday, reuniting loved ones kept apart for more than a year.

For the first time since March 2020, Aussies and Kiwis are able to freely travel between the two countries without enduring a fortnight of hotel quarantine.

Gold Coast Airport, with 16 services scheduled across the ditch this week, marked it with a sunrise skydive featuring giant Australian and New Zealand flags.

“Given the impact of the separation on so many, we are expecting to see lots of emotional reunions at Gold Coast Airport over the next few weeks,” Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said.

There was cake, drinks and a party atmosphere – including a guitarist playing Kiwi classic Slice of Heaven, as arrivals from Auckland touched down at Coolangatta.

Sandi Bergman welcomed New Zealand-based dad Barry Phillips with a tearful embrace in the arrivals lounge after being separated for more than a year through a period made even tougher by family tragedy.

“We’ve been waiting so long to see each other,” said Ms Bergman. “Mum died last year and I’ve been trying to get Dad out here for so long.”

Her dad has arrived just in time for his granddaughter’s 21st birthday this weekend.

Auckland’s Malina Moore, met 13-month-old niece Lucy, calling it “really emotional”.

Teary-eye Kiwi Lesley Eva saw sister Diane Senior for the first time in more than two years and met her niece’s baby daughter Charlotte.

“I thought: ‘I’m not going to cry, I’m not going to cry’ but then I got off the plane and it just hit me,” she said.

Mr Mills said the start of the inaugural Qantas Gold Coast-Auckland service on day one of trans-Tasman travel made the milestone particularly special.

“Recovery is ramping up for the airport and the tourism operators we support.”

There were reunions aplenty at Gold Coast Airport as the trans-Tasman bubble officially took off. The day began with a sky diving celebration featuring the Australian and NZ flags. (Inset, top left) Barry Phillips meets his daughter Sandi Bergman after he arrived on the first Air New Zealand flight from Auckland and (bottom left) Boston and Sandra Moonsamy, also from Auckland, reunite with their daughter Adelicia Roberts. Pictures: Glenn Hampson, Supplied