Emotions run high on flights
Passengers hug and cry as Australia-NZ travel bubble opens
SYDNEY: Emotions ran high as excited passengers set off on the first flights to take advantage of a quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand, allowing families split when borders closed almost 400 days ago to finally reunite.
“I’ll yell, scream, cry, hug, kiss, feel happy -- all of these emotions at once,” Denise O’Donoghue, 63, said at Sydney airport Monday as she prepared to board her flight.
The arrangement means that for the first time since the pandemic closed borders worldwide, passengers can fly in either direction across the Tasman Sea without undergoing mandatory Covid-19 quarantine when they arrive.
“It’s a very big day and exciting for families and friends,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who hailed the success of both countries in containing the virus as a key factor in allowing the travel corridor.
Australia was New Zealand’s largest source of international tourists before the pandemic, accounting for about 1.5 million arrivals or 40% of total visitors in 2019.
But on the first day of the bubble, most of the travellers were returning New Zealanders, with tourists expected to start arriving in large numbers during the upcoming Australian school holidays.
In the capital, Wellington, Danny Mather was overcome to see his pregnant daughter Kristy and his infant grandson for the first time in 15 months after they flew in from Sydney for a visit on the first flight after the bubble opened. What did they say to each other?
“Not a thing,” he said. They just hugged. “It’s so good to see her. I’m just so happy to have her back.”
The bubble’s opening received saturation coverage from media in both countries, with live TV reporting from airports providing regular updates on the progress of flights.
On a grass embankment at the foot of Wellington Airport’s runway, the words “Welcome Whanau” were spelled out in giant letters. (“Whanau” is a Maori-language word for extended family.)
In the airport terminal, Maori dancers performed a traditional powhiri welcoming ceremony for the arrivals.