Chaos as Air New Zealand cancels ONE THOUSAND flights to and from Australia –
grounding at least 20,000 Christmas travellers - and Jacinda's border restrictions are to blame
About 20,000 passengers are grounded as Air New Zealand cancels flights
Airline said trans-Tasman flights to Australia to be scrapped until December 31
Move was prompted after Arden government said travel restrictions won't lift
Air New Zealand has cancelled 1,000 flights to and from Australia until December 31 due to 'continued border uncertainty' between the two countries.
At least 20,000 travellers have booked tickets on the flights, all of them expecting the countries would reopen to each other before Christmas.
Jacinda Ardern's government has made recent statements that they would be unlikely to lift harsh travel restrictions before the new year, throwing travel plans for families and holidaymakers alike into chaos.
Ms Ardern said about 83% of eligible New Zealanders are fully vaccinated, while 88% have had their first shot.
The government previously said the country would drop lockdown measures and move to the traffic-light system to manage outbreaks after 90% of the eligible population was fully vaccinated.
