Explained: How Air New Zealand's new domestic pre-flight COVID-19 checks will work

Air New Zealand's CEO Greg Foran says the process of proving vaccination or COVID-19 status before boarding any of its domestic flights will be "seamless and elegant".

On Tuesday morning, the airline announced it will be requiring customers travelling domestically to prove they are either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have tested negative before flying.

Foran told The AM Show the popularity of the Air NZ app means the process won't take any longer than the current check-in procedure, stating no physical checks will be taking place.

"The way it will work is that if you've got the Air New Zealand app - by the way about 80 percent of our customers do and use that frequently - all you're going to need to do is with a touch of a button connect through to the My Vaccine Pass, and that will certify you as being vaccinated and ready to fly and digitally produce your boarding pass and you're good to go," he said.  

Foran said the My Vaccine Pass is a key catalyst in Air NZ being able to introduce this restriction in a way that will allow customers to have a reasonably seamless experience.

He said Air NZ's digital team had been working closely with the Government to make sure the digital pass is fit for purpose and expects it to be rolled out in mid-December.

If a passenger has booked a flight but tests positive before departure, the passenger will get a credit, or if it's a refundable airfare they will get a refund.