Air New Zealand releases flight schedule for Kiwis stuck in Melbourne

Air New Zealand has released a special flight schedule that will enable Kiwis stranded in Melbourne to return to New Zealand, despite the current travel bubble pause. Tickets are now on sale for the “return green flights”, which will start from Wednesday, June 9. Travellers eligible for the flights will not have to enter managed isolation on arrival. The flights have been permitted by the Government but are being operated commercially by airlines. Air New Zealand will have two flights a day between Melbourne and Auckland from Wednesday, and daily flights from Melbourne to Queenstown, Wellington and Christchurch from Friday, June 11. The flights are available to anyone who is normally resident in New Zealand, as well as people with humanitarian exemptions and critical workers stranded in Victoria. On Monday, the Air New Zealand website showed there were seats on the first flight from Melbourne to Auckland, departing at 12.05pm, available from $807. The later flight that day, departing at 6.55pm, had seats available from $360. An Air New Zealand spokesperson said they were seeing “pent-up demand in the first few days of green flights recommencing”. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has said the Government will step in to help with a sequencing framework if demand exceeds supply.<br/>