Oct 05, 2021

Terms to Fly with Air New Zealand Provided

While we continue to wait for guidance as to when and how New Zealand will be released from its current lockdown by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, any news which brings hope of a plan is very much welcomed. Thus, when Air New Zealand recently reached out to its partners with the email below, we were excited!

Prior to reading too far into this information, what we do know is that MIQ (14 days quarantine) still exists. It's a non-starter for International travelers to New Zealand, and mostly applies to Kiwis flying back home.

It also comes as no surprise that vaccinations will be required to fly. That much we have known for some time. What we appreciate are that someone is thinking about details, dates and how the country will again rejoin the world.

Below is what we have been provided by Air New Zealand, and we will continue to post additional information as we receive it.

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Air New Zealand is asking customers to get ready for international travel by getting vaccinated. From 1 February 2022, all customers travelling anywhere on its international network will be required to be fully vaccinated.

The following will apply for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination:

• All customers aged 18 and over are required to be vaccinated from 1 February 2022.

• Customers arriving or departing New Zealand on an Air New Zealand aircraft.

• Customers with medical reasons preventing them from being vaccinated will be exempt. More information on exemptions will be available in due course.

• Mandatory vaccination will be required on Air New Zealand international services from 1 February 2022. This requirement will not apply to Air New Zealand domestic services at this time.

The airline policy and associated processes for implementation of the mandatory customer vaccination requirement are currently being finalised. Further information will be made available over the coming weeks.

In addition, the New Zealand Government announced yesterday that passengers aged 17 years and older, that enter New Zealand, who are not New Zealand citizens are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from 1 November 2021.

The following applies:

• Vaccination status will be required when registering with the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) system.

• Proof of vaccination or a relevant exemption will be required, more guidance on how this will be managed is being worked through.

• A completed course of one of 22 COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by a government or approval authority with the last dose being at least 14 days before arrival to be accepted. More guidance on what is accepted is to come.

Mandatory vaccination does not apply to the following passengers:
- Anyone 16 years and under.
- New Zealand citizens.
- Passengers that cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons
- Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers coming to NZ as part of the one-way quarantine-free travel (QFT) arrangement with Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu will be required to have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, approved in their country.
- Customers that are fully vaccinated are still required to have a negative pre-departure test result and spend 14 days in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) — unless they are exempt.

Please refer to the New Zealand Governments COVID-19 website for the most up to date information.

Thank you for your continued support of Air New Zealand.

Author: Frank Krieger