Shrinking The Ditch

Airlines want it. Airports and tourism businesses want it. The travelling public would love it. So why can’t travelling between Australia and New Zealand for citizens of the two close neighbours be akin to a domestic flight experience?

When the Tourism and Transport Forum Australia (TTF) released a report last September pushing for drastic reform of border processing to simplify travel for Australians and New Zealanders flying between the two countries the group’s chief executive Margy Osmond didn’t hold back on her feelings. “New Zealand is our closest and most trusted ally and it is time the onerous and archaic constraints currently in place are relegated to the dustbin of history,” she declared.

Osmond was hardly alone. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce told a business meeting in Wellington that flying between the two countries should be like a domestic trip. “We think that Australia-New Zealand should have as seamless access as possible. There’s no reason why travel between the two countries should not be like travel within New Zealand. It should be the same. It would make it easier for business travellers and it would make tourism a lot easier.” From an infrastructure perspective, Joyce pointed out, it would improve efficiency dramatically because domestic terminals could be used for flights between the two countries, easing congestion at international terminals and there would be no need for passengers to clear customs or carry their passport.