No x-rays for transtasman flights

Passengers flying from Australia to New Zealand will be able to skip biosecurity baggage x-rays upon landing from next year when the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) rolls out a system for reviewing x-rays from overseas airports.

The new system would allow MAF to pre-screen x-rays while passengers were en route to New Zealand, the BusinessDay website reported.

The system would be rolled out at Brisbane Airport early next year, with other Australian airports also expected to join, MAF spokeswoman Kathy Dyer said.

Airports in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vancouver and Chile had expressed interest.

The system would initially be introduced for "low-risk" trans-Tasman flights only, Ms Dyer said.

It would mean a speedier exit from the airport for passengers who were a low biosecurity risk, she said.

- NZPA