Auckland International Airport handles first quarantine free Cook Islands service

Auckland International Airport handled (21-Jan-2021) its first quarantine free service from the Cook Islands. Passengers arriving from the Cook Islands will use a streamlined Safe Travel Path, which uses airline slot management, rigorous cleaning and other operational tools to create separation between Cook Island travellers and those passengers arriving from other parts of the world. Auckland Airport GM aeronautical commercial Scott Tasker said allowing quarantine free services from a coronavirus-free country, like the Cook Islands, is a small but important, first step in the recovery of the aviation and tourism sector. Mr Tasker said: "Taking a careful and staged, risk-based approach to re-opening the New Zealand border will be crucial in re-establishing regular, reliable airlinks with the Pacific Islands and beyond". [more - original PR]