Air New Zealand also responded to Auckland's new lockdown by stopping food and drink service and closing some lounges.
It comes as Victorian Premier Andrews said the “hyper-infectious” British strain of COVID is spreading faster than contact tracers can keep up with.
HMAS Cerberus’ Robotics Club hope its ‘Marine Evolutions Response Vessel’ (MERV) could speed up responses to critical incidents.
The new building has the capacity for 200 passengers and was completed less than a year after work began.
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said it would aim to maintain its majority ownership, which now stands at 52 per cent.
The airline said the move is in response to new rules by the Hong Kong government requiring cabin crew to quarantine after coming off duty.