Page 2 - Chris Ehmann News Today

Queenstown is bracing for an Aussie invasion as trans-Tasman bookings surge above pre-COVID-19 levels.

Mountain Scene By TRACEY ROXBURGH You could almost hear the sighs of relief at 4pm on Tuesday in Queenstown. After holding the collective breath for more than a year, the resort was finally able to exhale as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a trans-Tasman bubble will open from 11.59pm on April 18. The first flight from Australia into Queenstown in more than a year will be operated by Qantas, from Sydney, landing in the resort about 2.30pm on April 19. Air New Zealand will...

RICKY WILSON/STUFF Aucklands Cordis hotel managing Franz Mascarenhas hopes Aussies will fill beds when the Trans Tasman bubble finally kicks off. A travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia will highlight labour shortages and could leave some regions worse off than when borders were closed, an economist says. At around 4pm on Tuesday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia will start on April 18 at 11.59pm. Air New Zealand had alre...