It's not often that governments do something intelligent - but it seems that the air space between Australia and New Zealand may soon be termed a " domestic border ".
Instead of the usual long delays once a traveller enters either country there will be no need to front customs, have your bag searched or go through those interminable checks that officialdom seem to delight in applying.
The details have yet to be verified, but it may well first apply to tourist flights where all the passengers are exclusively Australian or New Zealand citizens.
In such cases customs clearance will happen at the point of departure, rather than at the point of arrival.
The idea is not new. It is in place for travellers between the United States and Canada and it has obvious benefits in time saved when arrival means simply getting off the plane - and walking away !
It may be extended to travellers of other nationalities and there seems no good reason why the formalities necessary on arrival could not be carried out prior to departure from either country.
In difficult economic times anything that improves travel and makes a holiday across the Tasman more attractive has to be a plus. Lets hope the bureaucracy can streamline procedures and make air travel a hassle free experience !
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