Qantas chief Alan Joyce has again called for the removal of immigration checks for trans-Tasman travel to boost business and tourism.
New Zealand is Australia’s biggest tourism market and the tourism industry has been pushing for years for Australia-New Zealand air routes to be treated like domestic flights,
"We think that Australia-New Zealand should have as seamless access as possible. There’s no reason why travel between the two countries should be not like travel within New Zealand," Joyce said in a speech in Wellington this week.
"It should be the same. It would make it easier for business travellers and it would make tourism a lot easier. From an infrastructure perspective what it does is improve our efficiency dramatically because we can use domestic terminals."
Talks about streamlining border clearance took place recently between the two Prime Ministers.
Qantas and fellow flag carrier Air New Zealand are part of a new aviation trade group lobbying to reduce high airport fees in both Australia and new Zealand.
Other members of Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4NZ) include Virgin Australia, regional Express Holdings and Jetstar.
