Border crunch: Air New Zealand, Emirates reopen for bookings, update looms

Air NZ's website is open for new bookings from next week following a three week freeze to ease the strain on isolation hotels although an announcement on what airlines can do from now is expected later Wednesday. Emirates' website is also showing seats available from August 2 from Dubai to Auckland.<br/>Air NZ flights from Sydney to Auckland are available from July 27 on the airlines website and prices start at $571 — one way. Brisbane to Auckland flights resume on Tuesday, July 28 (with one way fares starting at a whopping $904). These flights connect with Qatar Airways' Doha to Brisbane flights. Earlier this month the minister in charge of quarantine and isolation facilities Megan Woods said the Government and Air NZ had agreed to manage incoming bookings in the short term. This was then extended to other airlines as the Government stemmed the flow of returnees into isolation hotels. It is understood an announcement on flights will come later Wednesday. The number of people in quarantine or managed isolation yesterday was 3173. There is space for about 6000 people in 32 hotels in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch. Airline bookings during the period from July 9 were unaffected.<br/>