Locals planning to fly north this summer with Air New Zealand must be double vaccinated or return a negative Covid-19 test under new rules announced by the company on Tuesday (November 9).

Air New Zealand operates from Queenstown Airport with regular flights to destinations like Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland but, from mid-December, passengers will only be able to board those flights if they can provide proof of either full vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.

Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran said the change is about reducing the spread of Covid-19 ahead of the busy summer period.

"Delta has really upped the stakes,” Greg said. “What once kept us safe is no longer enough and we need an extra layer of protection.”

Queenstown Airport Corporation CEO Glen Sowry told the Wānaka App he welcomed the announcement.

“This requirement adds another layer of protection for those travelling, and our community, against Covid-19 and helps to get our country moving again.”

Passengers travelling on the airline will need to meet new Covid-19 requirements to fly with the airline from mid-December.

The airline is aiming to have the change in place by December 14 for an initial period until March 31 next year 2022. It will apply to all passengers aged 12 or older travelling on an Air New Zealand aircraft within New Zealand. 

Locals who are planning to fly from Wānaka Airport with Sounds Air may soon find they also need to meet new requirements.

A spokesperson told the Wānaka App the company was “actively assessing” its domestic travel policy “and any necessary implementations involving vaccinations or negative test results to protect our customers, our staff, and the regions in which we operate.”

An advisory would be made public once it was finalised, the representative said. 

Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult said he had heard of locals who were concerned about visitors coming to the district from areas with community spread of the virus and said the new regulations offered protection.

“Hospitality and the visitor industry make up a significant part of our district’s economy so there has been some uncertainty between balancing how we see that prosper again while keeping employees and locals safe,” he said.

“[The] announcement today is truly pleasing as it brings reassurance that businesses can extend the very warm welcome you would expect from visiting places such as Wānaka and Queenstown, knowing that everyone flying here and the airline itself are all playing their part to stop the spread of Covid-19.”

He said the new regulations served as a reminder of the need for residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible. 

PHOTOS: Supplied