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Air New Zealand will reduce its domestic services by 95 per cent from pre-coronavirus levels, operating just 43 return flights.
The new schedule, listed at the bottom of this page, takes effect from 3 April and is due to the country formally enforcing an “Alert Level 4” lockdown designed to “eliminate” COVID-19.
Previously, the carrier would have operated more than 400 domestic flights every day.
Chief revenue officer Cam Wallace said, “In the coming weeks we will be operating a limited number of flights a day using our A320 jet aircraft, as well as our ATR and Q300 turboprop aircraft.
“Kiwis are respecting the government’s essential travel only advice, however, we still ask customers to please check they qualify to travel under the essential services list before booking a ticket or going to the airport.”
Air New Zealand has also committed to operating ad-hoc charter flights at the request of the government.
The announcement comes after the airline said on Tuesday that nearly a third of its employees, or 3,500 staff, would be laid off in the coming months. It called that figure a “conservative” assumption that could rise depending on the duration of national and international travel and movement restrictions.
Chief executive Greg Foran said then, “Unfortunately, COVID-19 has seen us go from having revenue of NZ$5.8 billion to what is shaping up to be less than NZ$500 million annually based on the current booking patterns we are seeing.
“This has the potential to be catastrophic for our business unless we take some decisive action.”
The announcements come despite the airline receiving a NZ$900 million bailout from the government to keep it flying.
The carrier has already begun to shift attention towards operating new cargo routes during the crisis. The first Air New Zealand cargo flight from Auckland to Shanghai departed this week, carrying premium local export goods including honey and seafood.
Air NZ domestic schedule from 3 April
Auckland-Christchurch (A320)
- 3x return services Mon-Fri
- 1x return service Sat/Sun
Auckland-Wellington (A320)
- 1x return service Mon-Sun
Wellington-Christchurch (Q300, ATR)
- 2x return services Mon-Fri
- 1x return service Sat/Sun
Wellington-Nelson (Q300)
- 1x return service Mon-Fri
Christchurch-Dunedin (ATR)
