Australia, NZ explore common border for flights
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Australia and New Zealand are investigating having trans-Tasman flights reclassified as domestic routes, according to a ChannelNews Asia report. If it goes ahead, the move would reduce travelling time between the two countries and could cut more than 20% off air fares, the report said.
Customs officials on both sides of the Tasman Sea are already planning trials to clear passengers before they board flights between the countries. Dunedin International Airport manager John McCall was quoted telling the Otago Daily Times that the idea had been “on the agenda” for several years.
“Airports are all in favour of making travel across the Tasman easier,” McCall was reported saying. “There has to be a lot of work, but we welcome it,” he added. The “work” involved will involve duty-free facilities, security and immigration.
The trials will look at creating a clearance system similar to those used for passengers travelling from Canada into the US and in Europe across EU countries, ChannelNews Asia reported. Once cleared at the point of origin, passengers enter the next port as a domestic visitor.
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