JetStar Looking to Change New Zealand / Australian Borders

This sounds like a great idea to me, but the government would lose out on tax dollars thus meaning it will probably not happen:

JETSTAR chief Bruce Buchanan wants Australia and New Zealand to adopt a common border and drop travel restrictions across the Tasman.

The move would end customs, immigration and quarantine checks and allow the Qantas offshoot to operate from low-cost secondary airports, reports the Herald Sun.

He acknowledged that quarantine and border security issues would have to be resolved.

But the move could mirror airline operations in Europe where carriers, like Irish-owned Ryanair, fly unrestricted between capitals.

Mr Buchanan said return airfares between both countries were likely to fall by $60 under a common border arrangement.

The arrangement would also stimulate jobs growth on both sides of the Tasman, he said.

“If you are able take out $60 worth of fixed costs of a return Trans Tasman airfare, you could bring a Jetstar economy fare down from $200-$210 to say $140-150 one-way,” he said.

Lower costs and fewer regulations also meant that Newcastle, Christchurch and Avalon airports could be used for trans-Tasman operations.

“Now is the time for the transport and tourism sectors on both sides of the Tasman to have our elected leaders act upon the common political thread now between them,” Mr Buchanan said.

He said a common border arrangement was supported by Jetstar parent Qantas because it would create a hassle-free trans Tasman travel experience.

“If you want economic stimulus packages by governments and you want to drive tourism in the current environment, I can’t think of anything that’s going to drive a greater increase in passenger movements,” said Mr Buchanan.

“And if we want to bring the two countries closer together in terms of trade and economic integration, this is a great thing to do.”

Read more in the Herald Sun.