Plan not on Air NZ manifest

Group is set to present its own draft proposal to the New Zealand and Australian governments for consideration soon.

‘‘Our aim is to put forward a detailed set of recommendations that safely manage any health risks, while also allowing Kiwis and Australians to travel to each country without the need for a 14-day quarantine,’’ Scott Tasker, group co-chairman and Auckland Airport general manager aeronautical commercial, said.

Made up of government agencies, six airports and two airlines, the group has spent the past few weeks developing the recommendations.

The chambers of commerce’s proposal would see the Canberrawellington flights continue for a number of weeks before flights to other Australian and New Zealand destinations are added.

Barnett said it was designed to restore consumer confidence ‘‘that we can get back to business’’.

‘‘We feed each other, and we need each other’s dollars urgently to help with economic recovery. New Zealand needs Aussies back here as our single most important visitors, all 1.5 million of them, supporting our tourism sector, our cafes and events decimated by the enforced shutdown.’’

Barnett said the chambers of commerce saw the flights between the two capital cities as ‘‘symbolic’’, but also ‘‘critical to demonstrating that there are processes and safeguards in place to keep Covid-19 at bay and allow the free movement of people.

When asked about the chambers of commerce’s proposal, Wellingtonnz general manager David Perks said government agencies, health experts, airports and airlines on both sides of the Tasman were working ‘‘to get the border with Australia opened for safe air travel as soon as practicable’’.

‘‘Wellington International Airport are well placed and committed to enable flights on all routes between Wellington and Australia to resume,’’ said Perks.