1st passengers from New Zealand land in Australia

ANKARA (AA) - First three flights from New Zealand landed at Sydney airport on Friday, as Australia open its borders for New Zealanders after almost seven months, local media reported.

Today marks the first time since March 29 that international travelers will not be subjected to the 14-day mandatory COVID-19 hotel quarantine scheme, according to ABC News.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard termed it as a "great day", however, he said that travelers arriving from New Zealanders would need to prove they are symptom-free..

"There will be different channels and ways in of those New Zealand travellers from the other travellers, and also keeping them separate from people coming in from Victoria from the time being," ABC quoted Hazzard as saying.

There will be a total of 16 flights between the two countries each week.

Earlier this month, Australia announced it will allow quarantine-free travel from New Zealand as the country moves to reopen its international borders.

Meanwhile, Melbourne is set to hit 100 days in lockdown this weekend following fresh outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria state in July.

Australia has so far reported 27,371 cases with 904 deaths, according to US' Johns Hopkins University.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid