Travelers between Australia and New Zealand should soon have an easier time flying between the two countries. Following several years of discussions and plans, the customs officials of both nations are about to relax rules on travel between them, classifying flights across the Tasman Sea as domestic trips.
There is currently an open skies agreement between Australia and New Zealand, and the rules for quarantine, security and other issues had to be resolved before allowing the easier trips. The nations will begin a trial program that is intended to make travel similar to that between Canada and the United States, as well also between different EU member nations. Once travelers are cleared for departure, they can then enter any port in either country as a domestic visitor.
The major carries in the two nations, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar and Pacific Blue, have said that the new rules could result in substantial fare cuts, by as much as 30 percent. Once the trials are complete and the kinks worked out, the new rules should go into widespread effect, making travel easier, quicker and less expensive!
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