Canberra Airport boss Stephen Byron has appealed to the Australian Border Force to make the airport a "green zone" so a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand can open faster.
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Mr Byron wrote to Border Force officials on Monday urging them to green-light international travel through Canberra Airport by Monday, so a Trans-Tasman travel bubble could begin as early as July 1.
It followed a letter to government ministers on Friday, escalating his earlier calls for Canberra to be the guinea pig for flights between Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Byron wants travel between the countries to open gradually through "safe" cities - specifically Canberra and Wellington - beginning with one flight a day.
After a two-week trial, the bubble could be extended to other routes allowing the travel bubble to be fully operational by July 24 rather than mid-to-late August.
Mr Byron said there was no reason for the Australian government to force New Zealanders into quarantine for 14 days, given the country had been free of coronavirus for more than three weeks (New Zealand has since reported two new cases of the virus).
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He said bringing forward flights could be "the difference between an economic recession or a deep-seated depression".
"Many tourism and tourism-related businesses are on their knees and may never recover without a return of travel in the very near future," Mr Byron said.
Mr Byron said it was in Australia's interest to open its borders to travellers from New Zealand, including the 67,000 Australians in New Zealand, soon.
"I strongly believe that the severe economic impact of not taking proactive steps to re-open travel between our countries in the near-term outweigh the extremely low risk in doing so," Mr Byron said.
He urged the government to approve flights from Wellington to Canberra from as early as July 1, with no quarantine restrictions on arriving passengers.
About 3500 people had already registered their interest in flying between the two capitals.
Mr Byron said the airport was in discussions with Australian and New Zealand airlines about charter arrangements.
It was even in talks with Virgin Australia, despite the airline being in administration.
The government would be required to amend the ban on Australians leaving the country, as well as the requirement for returning travellers to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days after coming home.
It would require the government to grant formal permission for New Zealand citizens to enter Australia without quarantine.
Australian Border Force would need to designate Canberra Airport as a green zone by June 22.
"I recognise this is a tight timeframe however Canberra Airport wishes to ensure it is ready and properly prepared and endorsed for the commencement of flights between our COVID-safe capital cities so that flights can commence in the period 1-10 July 2020," Mr Byron said.
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Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham told the National Press Club on Wednesday a travel bubble will happen faster "if Australian states open up to each other faster".
It would also depend on the success of a pilot program allowing international students to return to the ACT.
"Sadly, though, keeping those border restrictions largely in place is a price we have to pay to keep COVID under control. That means international border restrictions are likely to be there for some time to come," Senator Birmingham said.
Hundreds of ground controllers. baggage handlers, caterers and security staff at Canberra Airport were left without work when the majority of flights were grounded to reduce the spread of coronavirus in March.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr has previously said the test flight was an "important first step" to rebuild Canberra's aviation and tourism industries.
