New Zealanders slow to take up Australian travel bubble offer, says Qantas

New Zealanders are not exactly rushing to take up the Australian government’s offer to visit NSW and the NT.

Facing quarantine on return, New Zealand travellers have not been rushing to buy tickets to Australian destinations. Picture: Supplied.

New Zealanders are not exactly rushing to take up the Australian government’s offer to visit NSW or the Northern Territory following the creation of a trans-Tasman bubble.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack announced on Friday the government would allow Kiwis to travel to NSW and the Top End without having to quarantine, with South Australia expected to be added to the bubble shortly.

The same privileges would not be available to Australians wishing to visit New Zealand, however, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned that Kiwis taking up the offer may have to quarantine on return.

Qantas responded to the announcement by scheduling six return flights a week between Auckland and Sydney and four a week between Christchurch and Sydney, with Jetstar to operate three flights between Auckland and Sydney from October 16.

One-way fares from Auckland were set at $880, and $875 from Christchurch and $680 and $650 for the return legs respectively.

On Monday, a Qantas spokesman said that “as expected, the majority of fares being purchased were inbound to Australia”.

“These seats have only been on sale for a few days and demand is steady, albeit off a low base as quarantine restrictions remain (on the return trip),” the spokesman said.

The bookings were in contrast to those for Qantas’s seven-hour “scenic flight to nowhere” scheduled for this Saturday, which sold out in 10 minutes.

Boeing 737s that seat up to 174 passengers are being used for the trans-Tasman flights.

Virgin Australia has opted not to schedule services on the route until there is an option for Australians to travel to New Zealand.