Air NZ Airnotes: Tasman schedule changes | Quarantine-free travel from NZ - Rarotonga resumes | Trav

Tasman schedule changes March-April 2021

The new schedule for travel to/from Australia between 29 March-18 April 2021, will be progressively rolled out in the GDS from today.

All services are subject to change as governments continue to introduce or update travel and border restrictions.

*AKL-PER-AKL is subject to final approval. Customers won't yet be re-accommodated, a further update will be shared in due course.

The following will apply to customers affected by these schedule changes:

AKL-SYD/BNE/MEL may have a DOW or aircraft change

• All passengers will be re-accommodated to the next best available date.

New Zealand - Australia (excl. AKL-SYD/MEL/BNE)

• Passengers will be re-accommodated to the next best available date via AKL.
• We request that agents contact customers to book their connecting domestic New Zealand and domestic Australia flights.
• For customers requiring a domestic Australia connecting flight. e.g. AKL-(NZ)-CNS to AKL-(NZ)-BNE-(NZ*/QF)-CNS, please contact Agency Sales for assistance with NZ*/QF booking classes.

Air New Zealand will work with Managed Isolation and Quarantine NZ (MIQ) on these changes to ensure vouchers are updated to the new flight as per the schedule change. Customers will need to check the MIQ system close to their new flight departure to download an updated voucher.

Impacted customers wishing to make a change to their flight or who no longer wish to travel have flexibility as outlined in the Customer Flexibility Guide. If your customer wishes to make a further date change, a new MIQ space will need to be secured from MIQ availability directly before changing the date of travel.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand - Rarotonga resumes

Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Rarotonga has resumed, with the addition of the following new Cook Islands Government condition of entry:

• A negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the customer's flight departing Auckland (previously was 96 hours).

Please note, these requirements are in addition to the following Cook Islands Government conditions already in place:

• Completing the exit health clearance process at Auckland International Airport.
• Have not been overseas outside of the Cook Islands or New Zealand in the past 14 days.

The Cook Islands border remains closed to most foreigners. Customers wishing to travel from Auckland to Rarotonga will need to check they are eligible.

To check eligibility, visit the Cook Island Government's website

Travel to China

The Chinese Embassy has updated its requirements for all passengers departing on flights to China.

Effective 1 March 2021, all passengers who have received a COVID-19 vaccination are required to upload their vaccine certificate as part of the QR Health Code process, this is in addition to the requirement to complete pre-departure COVID-19 tests.

The full list of requirements is listed below.

Passengers with international travel, who are arriving in China are required to:

• Upload their vaccination certificate as part of the QR Health code process if they have received a COVID-19 vaccination. The certificate must include the following:
  • Passengers full name, gender, date of birth.
  • Name of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Injection dates of the first and second doses.
  • Location of vaccination.
  • The certificate must be signed by the vaccinating doctor or imprinted with the stamp of the medical institute.
  • Please note: a COVID-19 vaccination is not a current requirement for travel into China.
• Complete one nucleic acid (PCR) test and one COVID-19 IgM test. The tests are to be completed with negative results within 2 days before departure.
• Chinese Passport holders:
  • Provide a QR Health Code with Green HS status:
    The QR code for Chinese passport holders can be accessed via the WeChat App and must be set up in advance of travel to capture the health check requirements set out by the Chinese Government. This information is assessed and validated by the Chinese health authorities to generate an approved QR Green Health Status code, which is to be presented at check-in. If this code is not presented or does not reflect a Green HS code, the passenger will be denied boarding at the departing airport.

• Foreign Nationals must have one of the following:
  • Provide a QR Health Code with Green HS status:
    The QR code for foreign passport holders can be accessed via the WeChat App and must be set up in advance of travel to capture the health check requirements set out by the Chinese Government. This information is assessed and validated by the Chinese health authorities to generate an approved QR Green Health Status code, which is to be presented at check-in. If this code is not presented or does not reflect a Green HS code, the passenger will be denied boarding at the departing airport. Or:
  • A Health Declaration Letter signed and sealed by the Chinese Embassy.
    Foreign nationals may complete a Health Declaration Form which is to be sent to the Chinese Embassy along with one nucleic acid (PCR) test and one COVID-19 IgM negative test result. The Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General will assess and validate the information. If health requirements are met, this form will be signed and sealed and emailed back to the customer to print and present at check-in. Foreign nationals without a signed and sealed Health Declaration Form will be denied boarding at the departing airport.

Please visit the Chinese Embassy's website for full details.

We recommend that Travel Agents refer to the IATA website (powered by Timatic) and also the COVID-19 government websites for any country that a customer travels to/from or via for the latest travel advice.