Coronavirus: ‘green lane’ plan to isolate travellers in trans-Tasman bubble

Passengers flying in the ‘trans-Tasman bubble’ will use so-called green lanes separating them from other international travellers.

Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum co-chair Ann Sherry says ‘channels would be created to keep trans-Tasman bubble arrivals isolated. Picture: James Croucher

Australian and New Zealand passengers flying in the “trans-Tasman bubble” will use so-called green lanes separating them from other international travellers to protect them from those who may have COVID-19.

A proposal being seriously considered by the Morrison and Ardern governments suggests airlines would also have to refund passengers if they became unwell between booking their flight and travelling so as to deter people from flying while sick.

Boarding would take longer to ensure there were not big queues and people could remain socially distanced, while masks and gloves would be offered to passengers who wanted them and hospital-grade air filters used on board to minimise the likelihood of virus transmission.

Trade and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham on Sunday identified the use of green lanes as one of the “complex logistical issues” being ironed out in order to assure New Zealand arrivals they would be safe from other international passengers required to go into quarantine.

Ann Sherry, co-chair of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, one of the groups advising the two governments on the creation of a safe travel corridor, said “channels” would be created to keep trans-Tasman bubble arrivals isolated.

“There’ll be a roped-off walkway that will be clearly marked. There will probably be staff there; there’ll be hand sanitisers,” Ms Sherry said.

“International airports are not that busy at the moment. The people who have to quarantine for two weeks (in hotels) will be in a separate arrivals line and queue walkway than the people who come in from New Zealand. The purpose (of the travel bubble) is you can travel without two weeks quarantine.”

The plan, developed by the trans-Tasman safe border group made of up 40 experts across government and the aviation, tourism and business sectors, is also seeking to reduce “touch points” passengers have with flight crew, airport staff and each other.

As well as the green lanes, smart gates would be used and passengers told to keep 1.5m apart as they left airports.

Sydney to Auckland is likely to be the first route under the bubble, which is due to start in August. After that, business travellers from other Asia-Pacific countries with low rates of COVID-19 could be allowed in without having to quarantine.

The Morrison government is also considering allowing business travellers from other Asia-Pacific countries with low rates of COVID-19, such as Singapore, into Australia without having to quarantine.

The trans-Tasman travel bubble will be used as a guinea pig before being expanded to corporate passengers from outside New Zealand.

The Queensland government on Sunday confirmed it was on track to end its interstate border closure on July 10, in accordance with its published road map.

There is a preference for all Australian state border closures to be lifted before the trans-Tasman bubble kicks off.

"If things were a lot better, of course we could bring that date forward ... or if something were to happen interstate, I'm sure everyone would expect that we then push that date out,” Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said.

Authorities would not necessarily require no community transmission in other states for a four-week period, though that would be "ideal".

Mr Miles said a travel bubble before July 10 excluding Victoria, where there is still community transmission, was also possible but "very unlikely" and difficult to enforce.