PM cautious on travel bubble despite preparations in Auckland
WELLINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern remains cautious on a potential ‘‘air bridge’’ between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, despite news yesterday Auckland Airport is being split into separate zones in preparation.
The airport is undertaking work to cater for different categories of travellers as they pass through the terminal.
Planning is in the final stages, the airport said yesterday.
Ms Ardern said there was a lot of pressure on the Government to open a travel bubble, but she said it had to be done with caution to protect the Pacific Islands.
Airports were ‘‘high risk’’ zones, so the Government needed to be sure there was no interaction between groups before a Pacific air bridge was set up.
‘‘We have to move through this very, very carefully . . .
‘‘If we move to quarantinefree travel, even with a place that is declared Covidfree such as the Cook Islands, we have to do it with absolute caution for New Zealand’s safety and the safety of the Pacific.’’
Auckland Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood said the airport planned to create a safe way for people to travel to and from countries.
‘‘Auckland Airport is building the new internal walls to allow for the terminal to be separated, and we are working through the final stages of planning with border agencies and airlines to enable the physical and operational separation.’’
The New Zealand Aviation Coalition, which represents large airports and airlines, said plans were under way for doing the same at the airports in Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Council cochairman Justin TigheUmbers said it was not necessarily foreshadowing any government announcement.
‘‘This is an important part of setting up New Zealand’s aviation system to be ready for any safe travel zones that do get announced by government.
‘‘So this is about the sector doing the groundwork, getting things in place.’’
Mr TigheUmbers said the airports hoped to have the zones ready for operation this month. — The New Zealand Herald/RNZ