Families reunite as Australia-New Zealand 'travel bubble' begins

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Hundreds of passengers from Australia began arriving in New Zealand airports after authorities reopened borders, a pandemic milestone that allows quarantine-free travel between the countries for the first time in over a year.

Television footage showed emotional scenes at the airports with families reuniting and scores of passengers thronging the international departure terminals at Australian airports, according to Reuters.

“It is the first time in 400 days that people can travel quarantine-free and we are adding 16 return flights a day to New Zealand, and they are full,” Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

A woman hugs her family members upon their arrival from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport on April 19. — AFP
A woman hugs her family members upon their arrival from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport on April 19. — AFP

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